The Kalanga are a proud tribe which constantly celebrate their "Kalanganess". Festivities are held annually to celebrate the growth of the tribe. One such festivity is the Bomboshaba Festival Culture and History which takes place at Domboshaba in Botswana.
According
to an article entitled “Dombashaba Festival of Culture and History - General
Information for Organizers” published by the Domboshaba Cultural Trust, the
festival was initiated by Mukani Action Campaign (MAC), a society of
writers that publish Kalanga literary works), in 2000. Later MAC was joined by
the Society for the Promotion of Ikalanga Language (SPIL).
DFCH’s mandate is the promotion of Bakalanga
culture and language, mainly but not only for the people who have been living
in that area of Botswana and Zimbabwe for more than a 1 000 years.
The formation of DFCH was formally endorsed by
traditional and community leaders at a well-attended and representative meeting
in August 2005. Ever since all Bakalanga traditional leaders have been invited
to annual general meetings of the Trust and have two ex-officio representatives
on the board of trustees. In fact DFCH has received significant support from
traditional leaders across Bukalanga.
The DFCH is
of a great benefit to Bakalanga. The festival provides and will continue to
provide a forum for the expression of Bakalanga culture and heritage. In
addition, the festival has inspired many cultural festivals across Botswana and
Zimbabwe, which in DCT’s considered view is a significant contribution. The
direct and indirect spend arising from the annual festival events is
significant to both formal and informal businesses most of which are either
owed by or employ locals.
The festival was started by volunteers, continues
to be organised by volunteers and adopted a organic model where initial
resources to organise it were raised by the community of Bakalanga, until it
grew to a level where sponsors could be brought on board. DCFH remains a non –
profit organisation whose financial statements are open for discussion at
annual general meetings.
Last year, the annual Dombashaba Festival of Culture and History, was held from 28th September to 1st October near the Dombashaba ruins.
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| Bakalanga Dancing Wosana at Domboshava Fesival |
The first day saw Bakalanga congregating at the
Kalakamati kgotla for a variety of activities including listening to Kalanga
folktales and taking lessons on the reading of the language.
This session also included the performance of
the various types of traditional Kalanga music and dance. Traditional cuisine
was on display.
On the 29th of September, there was
the highlight of the festival. Also available were cultural exhibits, Kalanga
literature, poetry, music and dance.
The only activity for September 30th was the
annual Nswazwi Marathon from Tjizwina to Nswazwi while the veteran musician
Ndingo Johwa, led Bakalanga in the contemporary music show slated for October
1st at Domboshaba.
For other information : http://www.thevoicebw.com/2012/09/28/dukwi-refugees-to-perform-at-domboshaba/
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