Botswana: In a continued endeavour to raise awareness on issues of Gender Based Violence, alcohol and substance abuse, HIV & AIDS and COVID-19, the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture held the annual Nna le Seabe Art Exhibition in Gaborone recently.
The Nna le Seabe Art Exhibition was characterised by a wellness walk which featured a motorcycle parade, pantsola dancers, rock and roll fanatics, members of MYSC staff and various relevant stakeholders.
The walk started at Ministry Headquarters and culminated in an aerobics session at the National Museum Art Gallery, where the official opening was held.
When speaking at the official opening ceremony of the Nna le Seabe Exhibition, Assistant Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Honest Buti Billy availed that “the Nna le Seabe Art Exhibition is in its 21st year of existence and has featured art pieces from creatives from around the country.”
In addition, Minister Billy revealed that the narrative around the Exhibition was initially HIV and AIDS but has been expanded to cover perpetuating social ills such as GBV, substance abuse and COVID-19, among others.
Minister Billy took the opportunity to also applaud the Ministry’s stakeholders and its sister Ministry, the Ministry of Health, for their collaborative efforts in achieving goals set by the government on issues related to general and social health.
Notwithstanding, Minister Billy, explained that the newly established National Arts Council of Botswana’s objective is to promote, commercialise and better position the creative sector by implementing programmes and ideas from the artists themselves as the main stakeholders.
The competition-style Exhibition saw artworks being judged by a panel of judges, which ultimately saw Fighters Fanakiso win the Exhibition’s first prize and scoop a P10 000 prize. Kebalepile Bantshwanetse took home second position, which came with prize money of P8 000. Oteng Letere came in third place and bagged P6 000.
Amongst the categories of art submitted for display were sculptures of different mediums, drawings, paintings and fashion pieces, which will all be on display for public viewing until the 31st of January, 2023.
