07 Nov 2022

Maun International Arts festival returns this year kick starting the fiesta with a public mural and painting on November 22.

Just like any other events and festivals across the globe the arts festival went on a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the organisers, Poetavango Collective have promised a thrilling comeback.

Speaking at a press conference in Maun on Friday, Poetavango collective chairperson Legodile Seganabeng said the festival would this year celebrate a 10 year milestone having been conceived in 2011 subsequent to which they couldn’t celebrate in 2021 due to COVID-19.

He explained that this festival was born to offer a platform for creative artists to showcase their talents as it brought together, visual arts, dance, comedy, music and creative writers.

‘’The arts in Botswana need to be polished and refined to international standards hence this is a platform for them to develop visually, literally and creatively and we have received requests from many artists who want to see themselves on this massive stage.’’

He said through the support of Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture and other sponsors over the years they managed to bring artists from as far as Brazil, United Kingdom, Malaysia, DRC amongst others.

He said unlike in the past where the event was a seven days fiesta they scaled it down to five days so as to recondition to its glory days. Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture’s principal programs officer in Ngamiland, Ms Refilwe Banda said they supported all initiatives geared towards unearthing and harnessing talent in Botswana hence their commitment in supporting the festival since its inception. She said the festival had grown immensely over the year hence commended Poetavango for delivering a successful Maun International arts Festival year in year out.

Ms Banda said the event had proved to be a force to reckon with holding educational and informative fora throughout the years having incorporated writers’ workshops and coaching for upcoming writers and writing competitions for students in schools. She said North West District was rich with so many talents from creatives, modelling, song and poetry that needed to be harnessed adding that this festival was an opportunity to learn and nurture these talents.

The festival takeoffs with a mural painting on November 22 followed by a visual arts and painting on November 24 at Nhabe museum and a community outreach program where Poetavango will donate reading glasses to under privileged.

On November 25, there  will be poetry at Okavango Craft Brewery where National arts Competition winners and seasoned poets are expected to mesmerize revellers.

The live music and picnic will follow on November 26 at Lunar Gardens as the curtains close on Sunday with mural paintings again. ENDS