25 Apr 2023

Madikwe Cultural festival continues to live up to its objective of celebrating the lives of river villages in the Kgatleng region.

The festival will be held this weekend (Saturday 29th) at Newville Gardens in Sikwane. “Madikwe Cultural festival is an activity that brings together river villages people to celebrate their success and appreciate their challenges through food, song and dance,” organiser Tshegofatso Powane said in an interview.

The event derives its name from Madikwe River, a river that meanders between Botswana and South Africa in the east of Botswana.

According to history, Madikwe River provided refuge for Bakgatla ba Kgafela in yester years.

Powane said since inception, Madikwe Cultural festival has made an impact in promoting community unison and productive participation in the development of the villagers’ own cultural activities. She said their ultimate goal is to encourage not only people in the Sikwane/Dinokeng villages, but others to partake and engage in cultural events.

Powane explained that they will not be selling food at the event as the festival ticket is inclusive of Setswana traditional cuisine, adding “A ticket of P200 for adults and P100 for children is inclusive of meals and performances during the day”.

Botswana’s favourite dikhwaere vocalist Dr Vom of Tsaya Thobane fame and other traditional song and dance acts Moologa, Mmaratwa, Matlotla, and Dilomakwati, Double Up as well as Oliver the Poet and KGBW and many others will spice the event.

Tickets for the event, which has made it into the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) calendar of events, are sold at web tickets at Spar and Choppies outlets countrywide as well as selected shops in Dinokeng villages. ENDS