11 May 2025

Nkashi Classic 2025 preliminaries second leg held in Kauxwi village on Thursday were a success.

The heats were a platform  for contestants to vie for a spot in the finals scheduled for July 5 in Seronga.

Nkashi Classic competition, a rare race of canoes (mokoro) organised by the Nkashi Trust purports to promote and preserve the culture of mokoro.

It drives its name from the canoe propeller, which is Nkashi in Seyeyi language.

In an interview, one of the contestants, 72-year-old Karumbu Kupembona of Kauxwi village appreciated that the competitions were held in their village for the first time, which gave them an opportunity to contest.

Kupembona expressed happiness that she was using her canoeing skills in a competition for the first time saying she had relied on her canoeing skills throughouther lifeparticularly for tsaks such as in fetching reed from the river since childhood.

Another first time contender of Kauxwi village, 37-year-old Moitshepi Kapu thanked the organisers for the Nkashi Classic competitions, which he said helped the people of Okavango District to benefit from the Okavango Delta.

Kapu therefore said the competitions should motivate Kauxwi youth to form an association that would help them to nurture their canoe skills.

Kauxwi Kgosi Simon Kambango thanked Nkashi Trust for adding Kauxwi to villages that hosted preliminary competitions.

Kgosi Kambango said the competitions were commendable since people of Okavango had been benefiting less from their rich resources such as the delta.

He said the competitions, not only promote cultural heritage but also encouraged children to learn  the art paddling canoes, thereby  preserving culture.

In an interview, Nkashi Trust managing director Chillie Motshusi said the non-profit making organisation operated in the Okavango, especially the Eastern Pan handle.

He said they saw the need to appreciate the people of Okavango through the Nkashi Classic competitions, which started in 2018 and the finals have been held between Maun and Seronga.

Motshusi said the competitions supported by De Beers and National Geographic promoted the canoe since its use was dwindling among the Okavango people, especially youth.

He observed that a canoe was a significant part of lifestyle and culture of the Okavango people since it was used in fishing, gathering reeds and as transport for people to get services across the delta.

Motshusi said the canoe was also important to the Nkashi Trust, as experts and local people have used it as a mode of transport when doing research in the Okavango Delta.

The Nkashi Classic 2025 preliminaries has so far been held in Ikoga, Kauxwi and Seronga while Boro dates were yet to be communicated.

He said they were open to add more locations for the heats as the aim was for Nkashi Classic competitions to be recognised across Botswana and globally.

Motshusi said the competitions feature categories for youth, adults, veterans and mixed race (both genders) in which winners from all categories were awarded prize money. ENDS