17 Jan 2019

The annual cultural showcase Son of the Soil (SOTS) will return this year after a year lapse in the showbiz circle.

Addressing the media, the Bana Ba Mmala Trust chairperson, Pontsho Pusoetsile said SOTS continued to promote Botswana culture as well as maintaining the cultural element that SOTS gave its patrons. 

He said SOTS took a gap year to introspect since the feedback from the public and the media regarding their events showed that they were not certain that they have the right skills to organise a global event that they envisioned for SOTS.

With a three-year partnership with Fresh Brands, Pusoetsile said SOTS would grow bigger every year and promised that the event would continue to grow.

He said that as Bana ba Mmala they continued to find innovative ways of engaging the youth and the community around issues of culture in a bid to preserve and learn about culture. 

He also indicated that Bana ba Mmala Trust prides itself in presenting well researched facts about the people of Botswana and their culture in a format that appeals to the youth.

To date, Pusoetsile said they have funded research and documentation of Botswana culture such as Setswana games, poetry, tribal histories, Setswana attire as well as Setswana dances. 

Furthermore, he said that they also assist and grow other cultural events around the country in a bid to continue preserving culture.

The 2019 SOTS edition will be held on March 2 at Serokolwane Lawns with a diverse lineup of talented musicians, poets, dancers, choral competitions, games and more. Tickets are priced at P250 for adults and P100 for children; food excluded.

He said they excluded food because of an anticipated high attendance, something he said would not make it easy for them to prepare food more so that the event was a participatory event, which allowed everyone to engaged in all preparations.

However, he emphasised that the morning breakfast would be free and provided for to all.

SOTS will kick start with Pitsong workshop, where cultural advocates and leaders engage and share cultural knowledge, followed by Metswaisong evening chillas,  which is a laid back interactive event where culture is revived in a family setting. 

The main event will follow on March 2 and on March 3 patrons will be treated to a Jazz festival to wrap it up. ENDS