08 Mar 2018

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Thapelo Olopeng says his ministry is planning to introduce a traditional dance style popular in Kweneng, phatisi, into the national cultural calendar specifically for the genres’ lovers.

Minister Olopeng said this on March 6 during a youth pitso in Molepolole. He said his ministry wants to promote arts and culture, and that they want to commercialise the arts and improve the marketability of artists. Olopeng noted in his speech that the creative industries provided three per cent of global GDP at a total of US$2 250 billion in revenues.

“These are the opportunities that the youth should tap into and benefit greatly,” he said.

He noted that many people have watched polka in their television sets after it was made popular by President Lt Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama during the Khawa Sand Dune Challenge festival.

He also noted that most social occasions now featured a group of polka dancers to entertain the crowds.  

In Kweneng, phatisi is a well-known traditional dance style, and was made more popular by the renowned Dipela tsa ga Kobokwe, a group that has never been outclassed by any group in this category during the annual President’s Day Art competitions.

A number of initiatives related to the creative industry such as the introduction of an artist directory, Botswana Artist awards are among the many that the ministry is working on.  

A creative industry strategy is also being developed with a view to cast the net wider.

Last week, the ministry launched a youth television channel called “Now”.  The channel aims to provide a platform to broadcast programmes that are relevant to the interests, needs and aspirations of young people.  The channel will broadcast 100 per cent local content.  It will broadcast content in areas of busness, arts and culture including entertainment among others. Ends