10 Sep 2024

The Dithubaruba Cultural Festival has grown to be so much more than just a cultural event. It has become a major social event for people of all ages, attracting a huge number of fun lovers within and outside the country. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic having left people feeling isolated and starved for fun and social interaction, the festival provides a much-needed outlet for the community to come together and enjoy each other’s company. For many people in the district, there are not many other entertainment options besides weddings, parties, and the like. 

As a result, the festival gives everyone a chance to let loose and have a good time, even if it is just once a year. While the Dithubaruba Cultural Festival is a fantastic blend of celebration of culture and entertainment, it is not without its challenges. 

As the biggest cultural event in the Kweneng district, the festival has a lot of attention and pressure on it to keep getting bigger and better every year. 

And with so many people flocking to Molepolole for the event, it is no wonder there were a few logistical issues. The Kgosi Sechele I Museum Curator and organiser of the Dithubaruba Cultural Festival,  Power Kawina, was thrilled by the growth of the event, but also candid about the challenges it presents. 

“I am happy to see that the event continues to thrive, but we must strive to make it even better. We want to use this platform to bring opportunities to the people of Kweneng district,” he said. 

In response to the limited capacity of the newly completed amphitheatre last year, the organisers created a large open space adjacent to the facility for this year’s Dithubaruba Cultural Festival. This open area was intended to accommodate the larger-than-expected number of attendees. 

Despite these efforts, Kawina cited several  challenges, including limited accessibility due to a single road leading to the heritage site, resulting in severe traffic congestion. 

Furthermore, the lack of mobile network coverage at the site made communication and sharing of experiences difficult, hampering the overall enjoyment of attendees. The surge in visitors also created a significant shortage of accommodation in the Molepolole area, as all available facilities were fully booked during the festival. 

Some attendees voiced their dissatisfaction as well highlighting several issues with the event. 

Many felt that the entrance fee was excessive, especially considering that they had to endure the scorching sun on the stands. Furthermore, they indicated that the programme started late, leading to many performances taking place in the evening when the lighting was poor, and the sound quality of the performers in the open space was subpar. 

This resulted in some attendees losing interest, leading to some spectators singing songs of their own for entertainment. 

However, despite these grievances, some revellers expressed their enjoyment of performances by popular artists such as Mma Ausi, Mmurubele, and Culture Spears. Dr Vom’s Tsaya Thobane also added some excitement to the atmosphere, encouraging the crowd to sing along as they joined him on stage.  ENDS