15 Jun 2021

As a temporary substitution for the President’s Day and Constituency Arts Competitions, Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture Development (MYSC) says it will embark on a Cross Country Recording Extravaganza.

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare recently revealed that as there shall be no President’s Day and Constituency Arts competitions this year, largely due to the danger COVID-19, the ministry decided on the extravaganza.

Rakgare said upon realising the plight of the creative practitioners, who were and still being adversely affected by limited crowding, the ministry came up with the initiative to cushion them.

He said the initiative would involve recording of various artistic performances across all the 30 districts and sub-districts, for broadcast on Botswana Television and NOW! Channel.

He said performances to be covered included are; traditional songs, Pantsula, Polka and contemporary dances as well as choral music, theatre, poetry, film and television productions, among others.

Rakgare, who is also Mogoditshane MP, noted that the initiative would be rolled out in two phases and it was estimated to engage  over 20 000 people, at a cost of more than P27 million, which would mainly cover performance fees.

He said the first phase would be recorded between June and July and be aired on Btv and Now! Channel during the month of July this year, while the second phase would be recorded in July until August and be aired on the same channels in September.

He said the recordings would be followed by the visual arts competitions, pop up fashion show sessions and murals in selected regions.

Rakgare said the ministry remained committed to its mandate of improving the lives of young people and would also advocate for empowerment opportunities to be availed to the youth despite COVID-19 related challenges.

He said the initiatives would not only provide financial relief for the artists, but also give them hope. He thus urged them to take full advantage of it. ENDS