24 Mar 2026

Onalethuso ‘Mambo’ Ntema, a musician, traditional percussionist and cultural heritage management practitioner, is redefining Botswana’s tourism experience through innovative cultural ways.

Through his enterprise, Africanites, Ntema has pioneered a creative cultural tourism model that offers alternative safari activities, aimed at extending visitor stays and diversifying the Kasane tourism experience. 

“I blend arts, culture, tourism and massage therapy to enrich the visitor’s journey in Kasane,” he said.

At 41, the Matsaudi-born entrepreneur has carved out a niche market that fuses artistic, cultural and wellness experiences tailored for tourists, corporates, families and events.

 Working in collaboration with partners such as Big Tim Arts and Kitto’s Beauty Spa, and hosted at  Rustiek Hotel along the Chobe River in Kasane, his offerings have expanded to include camping equipment hire, cultural tours, drum circles, live Afro-jazz performances and unique packages such as Drums, Paints and Massage.

Currently, visitors to Kasane spend an average of two nights. His target market includes tourists, students, corporates and families, with tour operators and hospitality establishments serving as key partners in delivering these experiences.

A University of Botswana alumnus with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Ntema has dedicated much of his life to advancing cultural tourism. His travels across Africa and beyond have inspired him to integrate community lifestyles into the tourism value chain.

Since establishing Africanites in 2012, he has published poetry, including Soul Seeds (2014, UK), performed internationally at Germany’s Markt der Voelker, and earned several accolades. 

These include being a Top 3 finalist at the Botswana Youth Awards in 2017, winner at the Botswana Travel and Tourism Awards in 2020, and a Top 5 finalist at the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum in 2023.

Known in artistic circles as Mambo Ntema, he describes himself as an advocate for self-reliance and sustainability. His mission is to build a cultural enterprise that drives local economic development while preserving authenticity.

He emphasised that although cultural tourism remains a niche market, it holds significant potential if packaged strategically around unique selling points. “The cultural sector is a green diamond that must be mined carefully, avoiding over-commercialisation,” he said.

Ntema further called on government to establish clear policies on arts, culture and sustainability, and to harmonise efforts across ministries and tourism stakeholders.

He said stronger collaboration among institutions such as the National Arts Council of Botswana, Botswana Tourism, and relevant ministries could elevate culture into a key socio-economic asset. 

Ntema believes integrating participatory cultural activities into travel itineraries could encourage longer stays and deeper visitor engagement. BOPA