Poetavango’s Music and Arts Expo transformed the lush Thamalakane Riverfront into a blend of music, culture and community on Saturday, drawing crowds who arrived with camp chairs, relaxed energy and an eagerness to immerse themselves in the arts.
The standout performance that connected to the audience came from Nonowe, accompanied by Dredd X, whose soulful set moved the audience into a collective harmony. Her covers of Fetch Your Life, Nomvula and Night Nurse warmed up the crowd, but it was her rendition of Bob Marley’s Turn Your Lights Down Low that ignited the moment prompting the audience to rise to their feet, sing along and sway to her captivating voice.
“Her performance was great,” one attendee remarked, reflecting the widespread sentiment as fans cheered for more.
One of the other highlights came when local visual artist Rob Mo ‘Jah Works’ gifted, legendary Singer Stiga Sola a portrait of himself on stage after he ended his performance.
Adding to the momentum, Coster Fx electrified the atmosphere with his high-energy delivery of fan favourites Insecurity and Tsamarato, pulling the crowd into a lively dance and sing-along session that kept spirits high well into the evening.
Poetavango Chairperson, Legodile “Dredd X” Seganabeng, said the expo marks an important evolution for the organisation as it strengthens its identity outside the long-running Maun International Arts Festival.
“This Expo, is a spin-off from the Maun International Arts Festival,” he said. “Over the years, our festival became known mostly for poetry, even though we introduced comedy, visual arts and music. Music was always the last to catch on, and we wanted to change that.”
Seganabeng explained that after challenges with securing full festival funding last year, Poetavango could not make their festival for a second year in a row because of funding issues and new changes that came with the changing government, which ultimately led them to seek sponsorship from stakeholders in the community and always to keep the spirit of the festival alive with the expo.
“We didn’t want to lose touch with the community,” he said. “Orange Foundation stepped in and said even if we don’t have the full festival, we can still create something meaningful. This event shows that beyond poetry, we can support and platform musicians, especially those from Maun.”
He added that the expo serves as a “jump start” for future festivals, helping audiences associate Poetavango with quality music programming as much as poetry.
Orange Botswana Foundation’s Social Impact Coordinator, Dineo Naledi Mpule, said their sponsorship aligns with the organisation’s mission of enabling cultural access and uplifting young artists.
“We are proud to be the main sponsor of the Poetavango Music and Arts Expo,” she said. “At Orange Botswana Foundation, we support bold and innovative cultural projects that bring people together and promote young talented artists, musicians and authors. Our partnership with Poetavango reflects our continued commitment to promoting the arts in Botswana.”
The event was supported by Orange Foundation as the main sponsor, with additional backing from Cappello and Stanbash.
The riverfront expo closed on a high note a colourful collage of music, scenery and community spirit, promising an exciting new chapter for Poetavango return with their much-loved mainstay festival.
