09 May 2017

While some believe that culture has been sacrificed at the altar of modernisation, Basarwa still hold on to their roots as witnessed during the President’s Day Competitions in Hukuntsi over the weekend.
The competition, which put all traditional dance groups of Kgalagadi North under the same roof in search of only five of them to represent the sub-district at the regional level, were a marvel to watch. The performance of all groups had much to do with the main aspects of Sesarwa tradition such as healing, hunting and gathering.

With their usual wordless song of ‘uwee’ coupled with vigorous clapping of hands, Badirammogo Traditional Dance Group from Make emerged the winner of the competition, proving to the doubting Thomas’ that victory is still in their blood, despite the fracas that recently rocked their camp and produced another group.
The new comers from the salt mining settlement of Zutshwa, Uxhauta Traditional Group and Xlantetshwane Traditional Group gave the audience the exact dose of tsutsube music and scored position two and three respectively.
Thagkgo ya ga Autate Traditional Dance Group, which performed both healing, hunting and gathering, had the audience eating from the palms of their hands and asking for some more.

However, the breakaway group of Badirammogo did impress the adjudicators and found themselves settling at position four. The once mighty Zowa Traditional Dance Group from Monong, which had always given Badirammogo  competition, had a bad day trilled by new comers and many wondered how it won at the President’s Day finals in Gaborone in 2015.
Their performance was utter deviation from what they have programmed in their audience’ minds whenever they are on stage.
Therefore, their poor performance booked them space in position five being the last group to escape the danger zone.

 Meanwhile, the secretary of Zowa Traditional Dance group, Malatelelo Gaditlhajwe said they had accepted the results and they would go back to the drawing board to correct their errors.
She further warned opponents that they would treat the next stage as the biblical battle of David and Goliath.
Magogela Thapong Traditional Group from Hukuntsi was the only casualty as they settled for position six, which could not take them to the next level. ENDS