16 Jul 2013

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama closed the President’s Day celebrations Tuesday afternoon by presenting awards to overall winners and promising artistes.

The winners are Phuti Babotlhale under National Art Category-Graphics, Theresa Selolwane, who scooped the National Basket and Craft Category-Textile and Gakenaope Dishero, who won the National Basket and Craft Category-Basketry.

The overall winner in the National Art Category and National Basket and Craft Category went to Thamae Kaashe and Mmamontshonyana Ditshekiso respectively. Thari ya Setso won the Best New Comer in Contemporary Music category while Puso Pheto was named the most outstanding Composer in Choral music.

The winners walked away with prize money ranging from P5 000 to P25 000. Other winners were awarded under the categories of performing arts, national arts and national basket and craft. Prior to awarding artists, Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Shaw Kgathi said it has been a journey of hard work since April when the competitions kicked off.

Minister Kgathi’s office has been assigned to unearth talent from all corners of the country with the intention to work towards development, unity and diversity and use culture as a source of employment. He said this year a new category , fashion design,was introduced.

When the programme was introduced in 2008, some 3 274 participants registered. This year, 14 061 participated. The minister said P2.4 million was spent as price money for participating groups. ENDS