06 Jun 2022

The sleepy village of Gakgatla  in the Kweneng district will become a hive of activity as it hosts the Setapa kwa Gakgatla Cultural Dance Festival at Segaetsho Cultural Village Hill from July 29 to 30.

Some of Kweneng’s most acclaimed Setapa traditional dance ensembles are expected to  give attendees the best of their dance at the festival.

Activities will also include art exhibitions, edutainment camping, traditional games, hill hiking, horse riding and quad bikes.

The festival is expected to attract both the young and old who will reminisce on one of the country’s popular traditional dance styles.

The event organiser Bosswell Mpofu stated in an interview that the aim was to preserve the Setapa dance and also highlight the potential of Gakgatla to be a tourist destination of choice given its heritage sites.

He mentioned the Kgabuduku hill area which was declared a cultural heritage site and noted that it would be unveiled during the event.

“The activities will also contribute to the economic development for the youth in areas such as Semarule, Ramakgatlane and Kgabuduku, which are settlements around Gakgatla,” he said.

For her part, Botho University Community Engagement coordinator, Joyce Seeletso said as an institution they believed in uplifting disadvantaged communities.

“Corporate social responsibility is important to us as a university hence our pledge of sponsorship to this cultural festival as well as hosting a skills development workshop for the youth during the event,” she said.

She said Botho University had adopted Gakgatla in 2017 and had since made a commitment to assist the village until it was self-sufficient.

Setapa is a traditional dance which was performed during the harvest season, Letlhafula, typically in the winter season. ENDS