03 Jul 2024

Dintorokong of Kweneng region are champions of this year’s national arts competitions in dikhwaere category.  This followed the group’s exhilarating dance and rhythm in Mochudi on Saturday. 

However, there was a little difference between them and second placed Mmadinotshi from Francistown, winning by a difference of three per cent. 

Dintorokong came tops with 81 per cent while Mmadinotshi scored 78 per cent. Young Dangerous Choir came third with 74 per cent while Desert Choir was fourth at 71 per cent. Speaking before announcement of the results, the chief judge, Diketso Keimetswe, said the choirs were limited by stage because traditionally, they used large areas, therefore the competition could have been held in another area, not a school hall. 

His view was that the competition should not affect cultural way of doing things but nourish it. 

He explained that judges were among others, looking at the quality of sound and whether voices were in rhythm.

District coordinator, Gobonaone Ramoupo, said the idea was to promote the creative sector as a source of income. He said Botswana was rich in culture, but unfortunately it remained unexplored. Ramoupo explained that the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture had taken measures to spread finals of the competition across the country.  He said this was a deliberate step to promote creatives in the country. 

The district coordinator said UNESCO had protected Bakgatla ba ga Kgafela’s rich dikhwaere and clay pots, which would be used to promote tourism in the area.

To illustrate this, there will be a dikhwaere event dubbed Koma 48 at Matshabe Park in Mochudi from September 28 to 30.

Meanwhile other choirs that competed were Desert Choir from Maun and Young Dangerous Choir from Hukuntsi. ENDS