Domboshaba Festival grows each year

By Mpho Tlale (reprinted from Mmegi Online)

The Domboshaba Festival is the Kalanga festival that is aimed at promoting and preserving Bakalanga culture; now in its 13th year running, the festival has grown to become one of the largest cultural festivals in Botswana.

This year’s event which will be held from September 28th to October 1st around the Domboshaba ruins and is expected to attract between 7,000-10,000 people. Speaking at a press conference for the event, Tjakabaka Matenge from the Domboshaba Cultural Trust (DCT) said they are expecting more people than ever before to attend this year.

Looking back at the history of the Domboshaba Festival, Matenge said that in its early years,  it only managed to attract around 500 people and they have seen that number grow to the 7,000 who attended last year.

He further said that the festival has managed to position its place in society which is why it is doing well: “Domboshaba offers diversity because all communities in Botswana must be recognised and should take pride in their culture. This recognition can only be done if people from different cultures live, speak and uphold culture in the ways that they can; how can you promote a language and not speak it?”

Matenge also said that it is therefore up to people to improve their cultures and promote them to others. He announced that the theme for this year is, Mother Tongue as a Composite of inclusive Education and emphasised the importance of people knowing their mother tongue. He added that: “Speeches will be delivered in Kalanga.

However there will be translation available to cater for non-Kalanga speaking people who will be present at the event.” The Domboshaba Festival will celebrate Bakalanga culture, religion, food, language, music and dance among others. Botswana Tourism Organisation has been a sponsor of the event since 2008 and is still closely associated with the event.

Entrance to the Domboshaba Festival is P40.

Related article from the Daily News.

See also on the 2011 festival.