10 Aug 2026

Poetry felt the heartbeat. Philosophy directed the mind. And on Friday night, Serowe got both.

The first edition of Poet Circle at Khama III Memorial Museum drew crowds with performances that blended Setswana verse, traditional guitar, and cultural storytelling, in an event organisers hope will put Serowe on the map as an arts hub.

Renowned poet Geoffrey Kgosi, known by his stage name ‘Chachaoka’, 70, captivated the audience with what many described as a masterful performance that sent them ‘to cloud nine.’

Blessed with a rich collection of Setswana words, phrases and traditional expressions, the youthful-looking elder crossed, in the words of attendees, “the line of the physical realm into the supernatural.”

“Poets are the sense, philosophers the intelligence of humanity. Art was a vehicle of communicating important messages to the public through unconventional ways that makes the audience to easily grasp the message,” Chachaoka told BOPA in an interview.

A member of the Botswana Poetry Association and gospel musician, Kgosi said he started performing at a tender age. Through passion and perseverance, he said, he has seen exponential growth. 

He now uses Christian poems and praise poetry to spread the word of God, edify audiences and preserve tribal history. 

“Praise poetry serves as a vital cultural practice to record tribal history, honour leadership and unify communities. These recitations celebrate the chief’s lineage, reinforce social values and act as a ceremonial cornerstone during important gatherings,” he said. 

 

Kgosi, a resident of Masololo in Serowe, also raised concern about artists’ welfare. “Performing arts are a diamond, yet artists are still underpaid, more especially in poetry. That makes the youth not develop interest in the genre,” he said. 

 He added that arts played a major role in preserving culture and history, ‘a pivot in shaping the future.’

Also taking the stage was guitarist Kabo Jone, known as ‘Uncle KB’. The Morongwa ward resident grew up around traditional instruments and ‘Motontonyane’ music, and later taught himself the four-string guitar at Nakalakgama cattle post near Serule.

He left the audience “wanting more in the palm of their hands” with a set that highlighted Botswana’s regional guitar styles.

“The talent of playing a four-string guitar in Botswana is divided into two: the southerners and northerners with diverging styles. Northerners press or fret at the bottom, while southerners press at the top,”Jone said.

He noted how the instrument has evolved. 

“During ancient times a guitar was played just for leisure. In modern times it’s bread and butter for an artist.”

A self-described mentor to young four-string players, Uncle KB said tuning by ear remains key. A four-string guitarist is “normally referred to as a one-man band” who relies on hearing beats that are out of tune to achieve “acoustic purity and unified sound,” he explained. Before metal frets and wire strings, he added, sinew strings from animals were used.

Poet Circle coordinator Kalayakgosi Kalayakgosi said the event was deliberate. “The roots of poetry are in Serowe,” he said. “Performing arts are booming in the area and we want to see the area becoming a hub of all arts genres.”

He said platforms like this “accord organisers an opportunity to unearth, nurture, elevate and retain talent.” To grow the industry, he called for continuous mentoring, clear career paths, and transparent communication.

Buttressing the need for monthly events, Kalayakgosi argued they serve as a vehicle for promoting cultural diversity, a tool for preserving history, and help participants perfect their skills for regional and national competitions.

For Kgosi and Jone, poetry and music are more than performance. They are memory, morality, and method. For Serowe, the first Poet Circle may be the start of a  cultural heartbeat. ENDS