MAGAKWA Cultural Group from Rustenburg is a group of young people driven by the arts and passion to make a difference in the lives of the youth.
The award-winning cultural group from the North West is made up of boys and girls, aged between 12 and 35. They specialise in cultural dancing, storytelling, music, and art.
Founder Lama Selemogwe, who is better known as "Kgosi Pilato", said they are happy to create a platform for young people to explore their interests and talents.
“We love traditional dance and we want to make sure our culture does not die. This group keeps us away from the streets,” he said.
Lama said when they formed the group, they realised that most young people didn't know anything about their culture.
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"Most young people get involved in bad habits because they don’t know their roots. They want to adopt modern culture, which leads them into drugs and crime,” he said.
Stage manager Kabelo Mpete said they are proud of their Tswana language and culture.
“We aim to share our knowledge and preserve our heritage," he said.
Kabelo said the group will host a three-day festival from 20 to 22 October at the Rustenburg Civic Centre.
“The cultural festival was formed to promote Setswana culture and heritage, and also aims to discover and nurture up-and-coming artists,” he said.
The three-day festival includes theatre productions, dance shows, and Batswana dance traditional awards.
Tickets are available at Computicket from R50.
