Botswana: Gaborone International Convention Center (GICC) hosted the 2024 awards ceremony for the 16th Annual National Arts Festival. The Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare attended the final of the festival.
The event which was hosted on Tuesday highlighted the creatives of the country and honor them for their talent. Minister Tumiso Rakgare stated that the event is a testament to the talent and dedication of artists from all corners of the nation.
He added that the prestigious festival’s conclusion is to recognize the artists’ achievements and the government’s unwavering support. “This initiative highlights the government’s commitment to empowering local arts and artists, recognising the cultural and creative industry as a vital sector for economic diversification and livelihood”, asserted Rakgare.
The Minister highlighted the increment of prize money from P30 000 to P50 000 for the winners, an indication of the level of support from the government of Botswana, “Re wa madi potoko! potoko! mo lephateng la banana!, the Minister enthusiastically stated.
The President of Botswana Dr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi was also in attendance at the ceremony. He expressed his deep excitement towards the celebration of the dear artists. He reflected on the theme, ‘The Creative Economy: Botswana’s Economic Future Redefined.’
The theme resonates deeply with Pillar number 1 of the national Vision. The national vision underscores our collective responsibility to nurture and develop the creative industries.
Further the administration seeks to recognise the creative sector’s potential to drive economic growth and diversification.
Masisi further noted that the nation takes immense pride in the achievements of the previous National Arts Festival winners. He highlighted that they have successfully taken Botswana’s artistic prowess to international markets.
He implored the nation to adopt a growth mindset towards the arts as they are not just for leisure and cultural preservation but also, as vital sources of income and employment, particularly for the youth.
The Assistant Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture Honest Buti Billy congratulated the artists who won under respective categories. He recognized the National Arts Council of Botswana for being the guiding light, imparting wisdom and knowledge, and nurturing talents to participants across the length and breadth of the country.