21 May 2017

Toropo ya Muka music festival coordinator, Bonno Ngaka aka DJ Colastraw says this years’ festival slated for May 27 will not only be about music and dance, but also at empowering Batswana.

Speaking at a press conference , DJ Colastraw said this year the organisers of the event took a deliberate decision to include women in exciting five-aside, an objective which seeks to involve many women as possible in sports. He implored corporate entities to register teams for the 5 aside activity.

He also said as part of empowerment Toropo ya Muka would donate P100 for each goal scored to charity for people with disability. He further said the event would also raise funds towards the renovation of the Monarch Customary Court which was burnt down to ashes in 2014.

DJ Colastraw said the festival would give a chance to 45 upcoming artists among them Bana ba Ntogwa, Dinkwe Nkgoga, Chase and others.

He said 10 artists from outside Francistown among them La Timmy, DJ Gouveia, Scar and Kast aka Tlatsa Lebala amongst others would participate at the festival.

He revealed that due to the limited budget the event could not attract more big brands and appealed to residents to support the festival so as to  help it grow.

He said this year’s Toropo ya Muka Ambassador is Kabelo Dambe.

DJ Colastraw said the festival would kick off at 10am and finish at 6am the next day and revealed that apart from music and other activities there would be stalls for the youth at reasonable prices.

He said the youth could utilise the stalls to sell food, designer clothing or beauty therapy.

He said preparations were at an advanced stage and assured patrons of the highest security as 200 security personnel would be manning the venue parameters.

He further said a makeshift rank would be constructed inside the venue to make it easier for patrons to be picked and dropped by public transport.

Councillor Lesego Kwambala, the chairperson of Toropo ya Muka, said the festival pushed the mandates of the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development and that of the social community development.

Monarch Customary Court president, Kgosi Gunny Moses thanked DJ Colastraw, saying he was the first to donate towards the renovation of the shelter after the first festival.

He said the renovation was ongoing and that the shelter was already roofed, but that there were no lights and public address system. Kgosi Moses appealed to other donors to assist in renovating the shelter as the kgotla was where community developments were discussed.

Kgosi Moses appealed to revellers to avoid vandalising the stadium and to desist from alcohol and drug abuse. Earlier in his welcome remarks, councillor Gaone Majere said the festival was a step in the right direction as the city of Francistown was working towards making itself a city of choice.

He said the festival would revive the music industry and help the city of Francistown in the entertainment map.

The event would be held at the Francistown Sports Complex. The festival started in 2015 and it attracted 800 people, in 2016 it attracted 4 000 people.

The first festival involved 15 local upcoming artists while in the second one 20 upcoming artists.  ENDS