03 Dec 2024

The Maun renowned Setsuatsue Arts Group will participate in the upcoming Mdundo Dance Festival billed for December 13-14 in Gaborone before it leaves for Mahe Island, Savoy Resort and Spa in Seychelles, to attend another dance festival, courtesy of Mdundo Dance Festival director, Tiny Wazime. 

The group, which emerged the championship at this year’s National Arts Festival formerly known as President’s Day competition in the Tsutsube category, will take part in the event for the first time. 

Mdundo Dance Festival is a dance competition that is open to the world and features dances competing in different music genres. 

Recognised by the World Artistic Dance Federation (WADF), the festival is a spearhead event that leads to the WADF All Africa Artistic Dance Championship. 

Setsuatsue Arts Group logistic and welfare manager, Fish Kenakemo, confirmed the invitation in an interview saying after their participation at the festival in Gaborone, they would also travel to Asia to share their traditional dance and music with the global audience. 

The group, made up of young people whom majority are unemployed, performs all the genres but specialises in Tsutsube dance and Wazime had also extended an invitation to the group to also perform at the annual cultural festival in Seychelles scheduled for December this year, he revealed.

 “We are very humbled by the two invitations because these are the opportunities we have been looking for.  

The international invitation is testament that we are growing and this festival in Seychelles will market our product globally,” he added. Kenakemo revealed that the group comprises of talented youth when it comes to dance saying they have added a lot of creativity to the dance to make it more appealing.

 However, the group is not a stranger on the big stage as it has been competing in the National Arts Festival since 2010 and preforming exceptionally well. It also made waves in the Ngamiland region as it entertained in community activities and impacted positively on the lives of the members. Kenakemo said they have various projects aimed at improving the livelihoods of their members, noting that the group has 30 members with the majority coming from the Ghanzi region and 30% of them being taken care of by the organisation.

 “When one of our own falls pregnant, we assist with clothing for the baby and his/her upbringing. We prioritise decent living and proper shelter, as such every year we identify one member who deserves assistance in that regard. We also give members monthly allowance,” he said. 

He said they have formed a task force that drives the projects to ensure they produce the expected results. Ends