02 Oct 2019

This year’s edition of the Domboshaba Cultural Festival has shown growth as new activities were introduced to spice up the day.

For starters, the national anthem was sung in Ikalanga, while the day’s proceedings were also condcuted in Ikalanga.

Also, the programme was also written in Ikalanga. 

And Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO), which was set up by government to market tourist products and to grade and classify tourist accommodation as well as to promote investment in the tourism sector, was in attendance, after a five-year break.

The main objective of the festival is to preserve the Ikalanga language and culture and it has grown to become one of the largest cultural festivals in Botswana as it attracts multitudes, despite other competing events. 

This year’s event attracted a variety of traditional groups and poets from in and around the North East District and most of the performances left revellers begging for more. 

The guest of honour and president of Ikalanga Language and Cultural Development Association of Zimbabwe, Tshidzanani Malaba applauded Bakalanga in Botswana for having started the Domboshaba cultural festival to preserve their language and culture. 

He said as Bakalanga people in Zimbabwe, they fought for the preservation of their language and culture to the extent that the language is now taught in schools, right from primary to tertiary. 

Malaba, who said the word ‘Domboshaba’ means a place of trade commerce, explained that the Ikalanga language is a medium of trade, engineering and technology. 

He therefore, said carefully studied, the Bakalanga governance system was beyond what is called democracy, because it had a wonderful governance system in place, which is not exclusive. 

“The Bakalanga had a perfect governance system but all is lost because the tribe now depends on indigenous knowledge. Their language is a language of patriotism and development and the language is there to promote peace and development,” he added.

Speaking at the same event, BTO marketing manager, Thabang Segaetsho explained that BTO wants to make Botswana a tourism destination of choice. 

He explained that the resurgence of cultural activities by many communities in Botswana was a welcome development and was clearly part of a cultural awakening and revival. 

Segaetsho further stated that the Domboshaba Cultural Festival was rich in culture and heritage and was often displayed in activities that had been taking place since its inception in 2000, and it gives great pride to witness how far it has grown. 

He therefore, appealed to the private sector to extend a helping hand to the organisers of cultural celebrations like Domboshaba Cultural Festival in order to package the rich heritage and vibrant culture and make it relevant to modern times, where it could be commercially exploited.

“By working together, we can expose and market areas of interests in our communities to both local and international tourists. 

This way you will be able to commercialise your event and comprehensively implement your strategy and allow for more participation of local businesses with a platform to exhibit their services,” he added. 

Domboshaba Cultural Trust chairperson, Kangangwane Phatshwane explained that the trust did not prevent any organisation or political party from exhibiting, provided that the organisation was in line with the objectives of the festival.

He also cleared the misconception that the event fuels tribalism as it excludes other tribes, revealing that all were welcomed. Ends