15 Jun 2026

Poetavango and The Impact Fund, have been awarded funding by the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture (AEPC) to pioneer new heritage narratives. 

The announcement was made on Friday, during the official launch of the AEPC project in Gaborone. 

Funded by the European Union and implemented by the Goethe-Institute, the initiative aims to strengthen cultural cooperation between Southern Africa and Europe through the co-creation of new heritage narratives. It also provides vital mobility grants and project funding to foster collaboration with European and regional partners.

Speakers at the launch emphasised that meaningful storytelling required understanding of local cultural practices, hence the need for a collaborative approach that respected and integrated indigenous knowledge. 

They urged international collaborators, in particular, to approach such partnerships with humility and willingness to listen.

Bathusi Lesolobe, a heritage and intellectual property management consultant, highlighted the critical role of storytelling in preserving cultural legacy. He stressed the importance of teaching children the traditional practices as well as deeper meanings behind cultural customs, noting that understanding the reasoning behind tradition was vital to sustaining cultural knowledge for future generations.

Academic researcher and multilingual creative, Dr Nametso Phonchi-Tshekiso emphasised the need for cross-sector collaboration and authenticity. 

She urged filmmakers and poets to look beyond profit and use their craft to reflect their identity and cultural heritage. 

She also advocated for breaking down silos by bringing together anthropologists, historians, filmmakers and musicians to co-author authentic stories and tackle contemporary issues like climate change. 

Furthermore, she encouraged involvement of youth and women in discussions surrounding cultural preservation and environmental challenges, noting that communities were primary knowledge holders who should not be excluded from policy formulation. 

She also recognised language as a core pillar in maintaining history and cultural identity.

Poetavango and The Impact Fund are deeply rooted in community development. Poetavango is a prominent Maun-based arts and cultural organisation dedicated to empowering creative communities across the North West region while  The Impact Fund is a specialised organisation working to ensure that local Ngamiland creators and artisans benefit directly from the growing tourism value chain.

Operating across Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture connects non-governmental heritage organisations and artists. 

By forming transnational, interdisciplinary Narrative Clusters, the project aims to produce compelling new works that bridge the gap between tangible and intangible cultural heritage for contemporary audiences. ends