Botswana’s Maitisong Festival 2015 scheduled for 22 ~ 26 April

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Catch MaP's own Akhutleleng Mogami and the Metrophones at the Maitisong Festival!
Catch MaP's own Akhutleleng Mogami and the Metrophones at the Maitisong Festival!

MAITISONG FESTIVAL 2015

Maitisong Festival 2015 is scheduled for 22 ~ 26 April at different venues around Gaborone. With a varied and exciting line up of events, we promise a true Festival experience where revelers will be spoiled for choice. There will be free and paid shows to ensure that money is not an inhibiting factor.

BACKGROUND

Maitisong Festival is an annual event that started in 1987. It has become the biggest arts Festival in Gaborone, Botswana with international and local artists bringing theatre, dance, poetry and comedy to fee-paying audiences in several Festival venues around Gaborone and non-stop music shows to thousands of revelers in under-privileged areas free of charge.

The 2015 theme, “elevate”, aims to take the arts in Botswana to greater heights. It reflects clarity of purpose for the need to professionalize the arts by pushing the envelope and setting the bar even higher. This is in line with Botswana Government’s realization of the potential of the arts to drive economic diversification efforts away from diamonds. The Festival is moving in unexplored directions. We are excited by the possibilities ahead of us as a Festival, as a city, and as a country.

PERFORMERS

Billed to perform at this year’s Festival are Botswana’s own A-listers who have achieved international acclaim. The international award winning Game ‘Zeus’ Bantsi will be ‘Bringing it home’ to the Maitisong stage – the stage that has contributed to his career as an international award-winning artist.

Botswana’s Broadway export Donald Molosi, alongside Donn Swaby (Chad in Passions) will premier his acclaimed theatre production Today It’s Me. Based on the life story of the Ugandan musician Philly Bongole Lutaaya, this musical play tells the moving story of courage and determination that saved the lives of many people. Philly Lutaaya was the first famous African personality to publicly declare his HIV positive status. This educational play could not have come at a better time, when the HIV infection rate in Botswana is on the rise.

The international jazz sensation Bhudaza will perform alongside The Metrophones at Molapo Piazza to wrap up the Festival. This will be supported by the CAFCA Orchestra and Tshwane Orchestra from Pretoria, South Africa and Botswana’s Tsholofelo Foundation Orchestra. This truly is a family event where you can enjoy music at the beautiful venue that is Molapo Piazza with your family and picnic basket. In addition, there is of course the memorable shopping experience offered by the many outlets at Molapo Crossing.

Two outdoor stages, at Maitisong and at Thapong, will be a hive of activity, with live music, poetry and comedy.

Dasha Kelly, the poet and writer from the United States of America, is back at Maitisong Festival after her successful poetry show last year. She will run workshops and perform alongside TJ Dema, Berry Heart, Leshie Lovesong and many more local poets.

The flagship Old Naledi Outdoor Music Show will take place at the Old Naledi Soccer Field. This is a highly-anticipated show that always brings Zola to a standstill. The show has been supported by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture since its inception over 10 years ago. It continues to provide a platform for upcoming artists to share the stage with their more established role models in front of over ten thousand ecstatic spectators.

This is but a small sneak preview of the many activities that the Festival offers.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture continues to support the Festival financially. They inject the much needed financial support which has enabled the Festival to continue.

The Embassy of the United States of America in Botswana brings Dasha Kelly and supports the poetry and writing workshops which are an essential part of the Festival.

Gabz FM as a radio partner and The Business Weekly & Review in the print media will ensure that the information reaches our audience in their cars, in taxis and at home. Gaborone City Council is providing access to facilities as we work together to make the city a destination of choice during the Festival period.

As alluded to above, the Festival will take place in different venues : Maru-a-Pula School, the newly renovated Thapong Visual Art Centre, Mantlwaneng at Westwood International School and Molapo Piazza. The uniqueness of each of these venues will provide an exciting variety and depth of choice to our audience.

PACKAGES

We offer packages to suit everyone’s pocket. Students with valid student cards, and customers making block bookings, will receive discounted rates.

Young professionals, along with mature and elderly arts lovers, have a chance to save with special venue packages. For each venue, there is a special rate that allows you access to all the shows. For access to all Maitisong Shows, you pay only P500; at Thapong, access to all shows is P250, and at Mantlwaneng P150. For an ALL ACCESS ticket, customers pay only P1000, and will receive a Festival t-shirt and cap as well as unlimited access to ALL the Festival events. Holders of ALL ACCESS tickets will have priority seats.

Ticket prices range from P30 to P250.

Free shows are scheduled for different times on the Outdoor Stages at Maitisong and Thapong.

For more information :

email : [email protected]

call +267 3971809, 72266221

Social Media

Facebook : Maitisong Theatre

Like our Facebook page and stand a chance to win Festival merchandise; tune into Gabz FM and buy The Business Weekly & Review for giveaways.

Twitter: @MaitisongBW – trending with us at #elevate, #maiti15

Instagram : @Maitisong – look out for behind-the-scenes pictures

www.maitisong.org : Festival artist bios, archive, and much more

 

 

 

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