29 Sep 2020

Mavuashire Speru Cultural Dance Group which is based in Ikoga, in the Okavango Sub-district has made a mark in the arts industry.

Officially registered in 2010, the group was crowned champions in the Presidential Day Arts Competitions on two occasions and runners up four times between 2012 and 2019.

The group founder, 70 year- old Kelebogile Mopalo said it was established around 2000.

It has also performed at the annual Kuru Dance Festival on two consecutive years.

Having had a speru dancer for a father, Mopalo said the group desired to revive culture.

“Speru dance involves moving the waist sideways which results in the dancer’s traditional regalia moving up and down,” he said.

Mavuashire chairperson, Keletso Kongwa reflected that the club has had the chance to participate in the National Independence Day celebrations in Gaborone last year.

According to Kongwa, the-45-member club planned to venture into horticulture, poultry farming and establish a cultural village to expand their income stream but lack of land had been a stumbling block.

Kongwa wished for the age limit of artistes participating in the President’s Day Arts Competitions to be revised up from 35, to allow seasoned artistes to take part.

She said like other artistes, they had not been spared from the effects of COVID-19 but noted that 25 of their members benefited from the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Developmen subsidy. ENDS