The annual Maitisong Festival is set to take off this week 12 – 22 April. In its 31st year running, Maitisong Festival has proved to be the biggest arts festival in Botswana. With a varied and exciting line up of events, the Festival, once again, will bring brilliant home-brewed and international shows to provide an unforgettable experience for all! There will be free and paid shows and workshops to ensure that everyone gets a piece of the action.
“For this year’s festival, the theme is Lore lo Ojwa lo Sale Metsi. Our focus is on supporting young, local artists. Through the festival, we will provide them with a platform to highlight their talents, with the aim of playing our part in nurturing our creative arts industry,” says Tefo Paya, Maitisong Director.
In previous years, the Festival’s themes have sought to encourage the development of the arts by embedding an attitude of professionalism within artists, facilitating networking opportunities amongst artists, and training artists in the business of the arts. This year’s theme seeks to improve on previous years by focusing on support for the industry as a whole. The creative arts industry can be a viable and major contributor towards our economy. One way of ensuring this contribution, is by investing in the youth, who will become major players within the industry. This will facilitate the ideal growth and further development of the arts as a viable economic sector.
Billed to perform at this year’s Festival are performers from across the African continent, including Botswana, South Africa and Namibia. Headlining the Festival is an exciting line-up of vibrant musicians and dancers. This includes Motswako sensation Drama Boi, RnB songstress Samantha Mogwe, Master DJ LaTimmy, musical duo Katlego “Seiko” Ntirang and Jordan Moozy, and dancers Samantha Claire, Tatyana Makuku, Galaletsang Mosweu and Thato Sebonego.
The Festival program has something for everyone, with a varied selection of poetic & curious dance pieces; poignant, unforgettable plays; breathtaking, dynamic concerts and humorous comedic acts.
This year’s festival will also include numerous workshops focused on mentoring, training and inspiring the youth. Monday – Friday mornings will have a dedicated youth program, which includes a performing arts camp where participants can get involved in drama, dance, voice and music workshops. These will focus on teenagers with a desire to be involved in the performing arts.
Know Your Change are mentorship and guidance workshops focused on youth in general. It is a great opportunity to realise your potential. There will also be Tai Chi classes every day, from 5 – 6PM. There will be many other workshops offered by professional artists who want to do their part.
We endeavor to bring new sponsors on board every year. We are excited by the level of support that we continue to receive from our regular supporters. This year, the Festival is brought to you in partnership with Gabz FM, Ditshwanelo Human Rights Center, No 1 Ladies Coffee House, Biken Studios, Thapong Visual Arts Center and Maru-a-Pula School.
This year’s venues are Maru-a-Pula Moving Space, Maitisong and Thapong Visual Arts Center. Maru-a-Pula and Maitisong continue to be the home of the Festival, hosting numerous theatre shows and the Opening and Closing Nights. Thapong Visual Arts Center continues its partnership with Maitisong, hosting a variety of music and dance shows. The uniqueness of these venues provides flexibility, easy access and convenience. Tickets for shows range from P50 ÔÇô P200 from Maitisong and all Webtickets outlets nationwide. Paid workshops are P100 per session or P350 for the week including refreshments. Students with valid student cards and mature and elderly art lovers have a chance to save with discounted rates. Block bookings are also available at available at discounted.
