06 Aug 2025

National Arts Council of Botswana over the weekend hosted a two-day performing arts competition in preparation for the upcoming National Arts Festival.

The council held competitions in different locations by different constituencies. In Mogoditshane constituencies brought together 271 creatives from Gabane/Mmankgodi, Lentsweletau, M e t s i m o t l h a b e / M m o p a n e, Mogoditshane East, and Mogoditshane West.

In Kanye over 550 creatives from Kanye West, Kanye East, Moshupa/Manyana, and Thamaga/Kumakwane constituencies converged to battle for a space to the National Arts Competitions. Competitions held under the theme: Recognising Our Cultural Diversity and Celebrating the Freedom of our Expressions.

National Arts Council marketing and communications executive Ludo Nkabiti said a participants took part in various categories, ranging from traditional music and dance to poetry, comedy, and theatre. She said the aim of the c o m p e t i t i o n s was to promote cu l t u r a l expression while identifying talent to represent constituencies at the regional level.

She said 30 winners were selected for first and second prizes, with all first place winners expected to proceed to regional competitions. The dates for the regional contests she said would be announced in due course.

Among the top performers was Olefile Mokgware from Gabane/Mmankgodi, who emerged as the comedy category winner with a score of 89 per cent. In the clap and tap category, Bana Ba Lesedi from Mogoditshane East took first position with a score of 82 per cent, while Lentswe La Baitshephi from Mmopane came second with 69 per cent.

In traditional instruments, Batlaadira Radipitse from Gabane/Mmankgodi led with an impressive 86 per cent. Mogolokwane category saw Kgalalelo Mariba of Mogoditshane East scoring the highest in that section with 84 per cent, followed closely by Gaisang Lebele with 82 percent.

C o n t e m p o r a r y poetry also f e a t u r e d  s t r o n g performances, with Caroline Dlamini from Mogoditshane East topping her category with 78 percent. Kgosietsile Dlamini of Mogoditshane West scored 71.6 percent, while Thomas Mbejane followed with 63.3 per cent. In theatre, Tsoga Africa Theatre Works from Mogoditshane West scored 70 percent, leading their category.

Traditional song and dance categories also brought energy and flair, with Woestyn            D e s er t  f r o m  M o g o d it s h a n e  East winning the polka section with 91 per cent and Magakwa from Gabane/Mmankgodi leading the Tshutshube category with 86 per cent.

In an interview in Kanye on S u n d a y, Nkabiti explained that 38 performers clinched first and second prizes, with first-place winners earning a coveted spot to battle it out at the regional level in September on a date to be announced. She said the creative fire continued in Kanye on Sunday with the contemporary music category, where artists captivated and inspired their audience.

Nkabiti lauded the participants for their fearless display of talent and urged aspiring creatives to flood next year’s registrations with their passion and vision. The categories assessed included amongst others, mogolokwane, poetry, katara, segaba, clap and tap, polka dance, comedy, dikhwaere, setinkane, backtrack newcomer, and DJ category.

Ms Nkabiti expressed gratitude to the participants for embracing the competition and encouraged more artists to come forward in future. The constituency level competitions serve as a build-up to the National Arts Festival, which is expected to feature top performers from each constituency across the country. The festival is scheduled to take place next month. ENDS