26 May 2025

Kwa Isong Cultural Festival returned with pomp and purpose on May 26, drawing dozens of people to Camels Inn Lodge in Mmopane for a colourful display of the rich Setswana culture and heritage.

Now in its sixth year, the festival featured stirring performances by veteran and emerging traditional music artists, including Solly Sebotso, Morwa Sebetlela, Western, Tjelenje Tje Ngwao, Yaya and many others.

The two-day event started on Friday with children’s cultural activities, storytelling sessions, and traditional games such as morabaraba, dibeke, and koi, offering young people a rare opportunity to engage with their roots.

Delivering the keynote address, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, deputy permanent secretary, Abigail Khumoyame commended the organisers for their efforts to preserve culture. She noted that events like Kwa Isong played a significant role in diversifying the country’s tourism offerings.

“We have a tourism policy in place to support initiatives like this. We are also reviewing the Tourism Act to better promote Setswana culture as a viable product. 

Our goal is to slowly diversify away from wildlife-based tourism,” she said.

In an interview, founder and organiser, Barudi Mosimaneotsile reflected on the humble beginnings of the festival, which she launched in 2017. 

“I started Kwa Isong after realising that our Setswana culture was slowly diminishing,” she said.

“Many of us were raised by our grandparents, who passed down wisdom, language, and traditions during gathers around the fire. 

That’s where the name Kwa Isong meaning ‘gatherings around the fire’ comes from,” she explained.

Mosimaneotsile said the festival’s goal was to reconnect younger generations with their heritage. “It’s about identity and pride in who we are,” she explained. “Part of the proceeds also go towards hosting annual lunches for elders in the community, giving back to those who shaped us,” she said.

Among those in attendance was Kgosi Letlabobona Mokgalajwe of Senthumole Ward in Mmopane, who lauded the event’s focus on traditional values. “People in the West have preserved their heritage, the English monarchy is a good example,” he said. “Why can’t we do the same in Botswana, where our foundation was built on tradition and the institution of Bogosi? ” He asserted adding that culture can be a powerful tourism asset.

The festival also resonated with younger participants. Nayang Gabanamotse, a youth from Bobonong, expressed her appreciation for the event’s educational value. 

“Our children now learn everything from their phones. Events like this help them see, touch, and experience our culture directly,” she said. “We grew up learning from our parents and grandparents. Kwa Isong helps ensure that our children don’t miss out on that heritage,” she said

The grounds were filled with stalls offering traditional food products and exhibitions of crafts, dress, and storytelling. Visitors danced, sampled local dishes, and reconnected with a way of life that continues to define Botswana’s social fabric.

Organisers aim to expand the event in future editions, with continued collaboration from government and private partners. BOPA