24 Sep 2026

Bakgatla gear up for Indepedence and Long before it echoes across modern festival grounds, the resonant, a cappella harmony of Dikopelo was born in the expanse of the masimo and sung by harvest workers turning seasonal labour into communal poetry. 

Today, that living archive of the Bakgatla ba Kgafela is transitioning from local roots to national stage, perfectly bridging the past and present as the much-anticipated Koma 48 festival prepares to ignite this year’s independence celebrations.

Nowhere is that vibrant spirit more alive than at the fifth edition of the festival. Running from September 29 to October 1 at Matshabe Park, the event promises days of energetic and coordinated choir performances that bring the community together. 

This year’s lineup brings together talent from Kweneng, Tonota, Bobonong and Kgaleng, alongside local groups like SK and Seshoboloko Makgatlheng, to name just a few.

The festival is just one highlight in a rich series of community events that kicked off in mid-August and brought to life through a close partnership between the Ministry of Sport and Arts and the Kgatleng District Council.

To really appreciate Dikopelo is to understand the heartbeat of the Bakgatla community. Historically originating as an a cappella folk tradition performed during seasonal changes and around harvesting periods, it has evolved over generations as communities moved closer to villages.

Recognised for its reflective cultural value, the genre is characterised by call-and-response singing, complex patterned choreography and rhythmic stomping performed entirely without musical instruments. 

More than just an artistic display, Dikopelo is an oral archive because it captures the social climate, history, triumphs and trials of the community through clever and poetic lyricism.

In an interview, Koma 48 coordinator, Odirile Molwantwa, said Dikopelo was more than just a performance because for Bakgatla, the folk music is an important expression of culture, identity and inclusivity. 

Molwantwa explained that through melody, the songs carried rich meanings and delivered timely messages about the community’s everyday life and social climate.

He noted that choirs would take turns performing in a celebration of music, culture and togetherness, to offer younger generations an opportunity to experience and appreciate the tradition firsthand.

“It will be a celebration of heritage, identity and community pride, bringing Bakgatla together through a tradition that continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Bakgatla,” he said.

A representative from the Ministry of Sport and Arts, Monica Selelo shared that Dikopelo had long served as a cherished form of entertainment across generations, quietly preserving the traditions of Sekgatla through song. 

Selelo praised the district’s thorough preparations, noting how the build-up activities had successfully brought community members and district leadership together on one platform.

Meanwhile, as the nation marks its Diamond Jubilee under the theme, Building Resilience, Driving Prosperity, this year’s celebrations are taking a grassroots approach, bringing the cultural spectacle right back to the people.

“That is why we just want people to celebrate within their confines, the best possible way they can. Members of the community will gather at their local Kgotlas to share ‘the head of a fly,” she said. 

She added that local artistes across various genres would also have the chance to showcase their talents at their respective Kgotlas and receive well-deserved tokens of appreciation.

Alongside the captivating rhythms of Dikopelo, the celebratory calendar is packed with community events. 

Visitors and locals can look forward to Kgatleng’s famous pottery exhibition at the Phuthadikobo Museum, football matches and a combined church service scheduled for September 27, to ensure that the celebratory spirit extends well into the post-independence weeks. ENDS