Top local artists headline Okavango Music Festival

 

The annual Okavango Music Festival returns for a second edition this August. The event slated to take place on August 29th and ending on September 1 is one of the coolest and most creative concepts in the Northern part of Botswana.

Held at Tsutsubega, thirty kilometres from Maun, Organisers want to give revellers the best time of their lives, as evidenced by a mixed bag of events that they have lined up for those who want to celebrate spring and party the days and nights away. Ranging from music, yoga, massages, and everything that one can think about, this is one event that fun lovers do not want to miss. Highlights of the three-day camping music festival will see some of the biggest BW artists taking to the stage, and they include the likes of Sereetsi & The Natives, Mpho Sebina, Shanti Lo, as well as artists from neighbouring countries.

When it comes to live performance, Shanti Lo is one of the greatest artists locally who can bring any roof down. And the Tsutsubega revellers better come prepared for one of the best performances of their lives.  Also joining the trio on line-up are artists such as Watershed, Bongesiwe Mabandla, Masa Caroleen, So Kindly, The Mackayz, Coddy & 100% Africa Dance, Evicted, Josh Kempen, Flying Bantu, Djembe Monks. On the decks are DJ’s that include Bruno Morphet, Dee Jays Chopa, Dantempo, Richard Marshall, Tommy Gun, DJ Antic, and others. Tickets are on sale at the festival website. Yoga campMeanwhile, for those who might wish to unwind and enjoy a different type of entertainment, they can look forward to the Kwatali Yoga themed camp, where they can experience yoga while learning how to connect through breath, movement and music, and nature. The camp according to organisers, will host an array of Yoga sessions including sunrise of Hangover Hatha, Kids Yoga, Animal Yoga, Breath work and meditation. Even more fun, says the organisers is that all yoga sessions will be conducted in zebra onesies, glitter face paint, and out of this world accessories.

Sponsors of the event include Ngami.Net, Benju Wine and Liquor Distributors, Mack Air, Water Africa, Swamp Stop, FNB, Pride of Africa, Afriscreen, and ADPRO.  Speaking in an interview, one of the volunteers, Mother K Masire explains that this is fun suitable for all age groups. She also says that the organisers wanted to show that indeed in Botswana there are spaces where revellers can have clean fun without any worries. “We have spaces where adults and children can party without a glitch,” she says.

Even more beautiful, she says, is that the community of Tsutsubega gets something from the event. A total of 150 members of the community are employed in the festival. “Last year, P50 000 was injected into the community as a result of the festival activities and employment,” she explains.  Speaking in an interviews, he explains that this will be one of those performances that guests will remember for a very long time. Shanti Lo recently performed at the Jazz X change event, where he left no stones unturned.

With a new album under his belt, his fans can look forward to an eclectic set that will leave them wanting more. “Maun is a cosmopolitan place, and you have people coming from all over,” she says in an interviews. She also says that he will be catering to everyone in the audience. “Preparations are underway,” she says.