After delivering show-stopping performances for both the Western and Vernacular categories, Andante Choristers from Ramotswa emerged the winners of the 2023 National Arts Festival, displacing last year’s champions KTM Choir who settled for second place.
Regional Champions converged at the SSKB Auditorium yesterday to compete in the National Arts Festival Choral and Dikhwaere Finals.
In the Choral Section, Andante Choristers, KTM Choir (Gaborone), Gaborone Philharmonic Voices and Serowe Symphony battled it out under the Large Category.
The Standard Section featured BW Choristers (Kanye), Naswibo Choir (Maun), Camel Choir (Tsabong) and Nxai Choristers (Maun).
The battle for the top spot in the Large Category was clearly between Andante Choristers and KTM Choir as the former scooped first place under the Western Piece bracket, while the latter became victors for the Vernacular pieces.
Andante Choristers were ultimately declared overall winners of the Large Category, sending the audience into thunderous applause and ululation for their remarkable performance and well deserved win.
BW Choristers swept the floor with the competition to win in both sessions of the Standard Category.
Minister of Youth, Sport and Gender, Tumiso Rakgare, who was officiating the ceremony reiterated government’s commitment to the promotion and growth of the local creative industry.
He further stressed that more was yet to come with regards to fulfilling the mandate.
The competitions were held under the theme “The creative economy: Botswana’s economic future redefined “translated to Setswana as “Tlhabololo ya itsholelo ka dikgwebo tsa botaki le bodiragatsi”.