A CARNIVAL LIKE NO OTHER
Maun Carnival sets the tone for Independence celebrations
BRINGING a different type of excitement, experience and fanfare to Maun, the inaugural Maun Carnival is billed for the Independence holidays.
The three-day spectacular street carnival and music extravaganza will provide an opportunity for Botswana to showcase and celebrate the country’s diverse cultures and traditions.
The first of its kind to hit our shores, the carnival will be held on the streets of Maun, starting with an explosion of colourful parades on September 29th and culminating in a music festival on September 30th at the Fish Boro farm on the outskirts of Maun.
Launching and announcing the event to the public and indeed members of the media, one of the event organisers, Emang Bokhutlo-mutapati, explained the idea behind the carnival.
“This is going to be a celebration of our culture. Botswana has diverse cultures and Maun, in particular, is a melting pot of different tribes and ethnic groups. We have the Baherero with their beautiful
dresses and flamboyant headgear; we have the Basarwa the Bayeyi with their beautiful dances, the Mbukushu, just to mention a few. All of them will be showcasing at the Maun Carnival but we will also invite other groups from different parts of the country to participate,” BokhutloMutapati explained.
Sharing why they chose Maun to be the home of the carnival, she said; “Maun is the gateway to the Okavango Delta and tourism is the second biggest contributor to our country’s GDP, but when Covid-19 hit, tourism was one of the sec
tors that were decimated to almost nothing and now that we are on the road to recovery, we believe this carnival is one way to help the industry recover.”
However, the Maun Carnival will not just help the tourism industry recover; the entertainment industry is also set for a boost. The organisers are optimistic that with the different events to be hosted at different venues, employing artists and entertainers, the Maun Carnival will create emplotyment for at least over 200 entertainers.
On the first day, after the street parade, the evening the festivities will end with poetry
night. On the second day, the carnival will host the music bash, featuring South African heavyweights, Mafikizolo, who will be performing alongside Botswana’s favourites like Stiga Sola and Lizibo. On the last day, the fun-filled weekend will close off with a boat cruise dubbed ‘Breakfast on the Thamalakane.’
Partnering with Maun Carnival is Botswana Tourism Organisation and The Voice Newspaper. Early bird tickets are on sale for P200 for two.