Thompson and Tilly sitting beside Lorenzo Tabret, just minutes before he performed his Thamalakane River Creation before a live audience of people, swans, ducks and dogs. To see a video of the start of the painting, click on Lorenzo Cabret. There are more videos and pictures coming that capture this unique moment in Maun history.

 

Whether it is 'life imitates art' or 'art imitates life' is was a joyous process and memorable afternoon.

Tickets for the music events  - Tickets for the Maun Festival music shows that are being hosted at the Sedia Riverside Hotel are on sale at selected Spar supermarkets nationwide. Music lovers are urged to get their tickets early and to arrive at the shows on time so as to avoid disappointment.  “With 19 groups performing over the two days, the shows must start on time so that we stay within our restricted hours of performance,” said Desmond Green, one of the festival organisers.

Gates open at 9 am on Friday morning for a show that starts at 10 am and ends at 4 pm. “We are expecting in the region of 1 500 people to attend the morning show,” said Green. Security at the show will be tight with over 40 security staff, the Botswana Police and plainclothes personnel in attendance.

By Bright Kholi - The Ngami Times

The water levels at Mohembo may have receded but all eyes are on the massive surge of water coming downstream and the potential damage to Okavango delta camps, airstrips, settlements and villages.  It is without doubt that the flood is coming down quickly and from the look of things the water might reach the Boro and Thamalakane rivers very soon.

On Wednesday, The Ngami Times joined tour operators on a flight by Mack Air to assess the flood situation and see if there is any damage to camps and one can see that the Okavango delta is under a huge expanse of water. The water has already passed the Jedibe and Jao areas.  It is still not clear how long it will take the Boro to carry the water to the Thamalakane, but it is anticipated that it could be flowing through Maun by the end of the month or the first week of May.

What is certain though is that any infrastructure or properties lying in areas prone to flooding will affected. There are some camps which have been affected in different ways, with staff villages under water, walkways flooded and roads impassable as well as water threatening airstrips – one of the earliest arrivals of the annual flood for many years.  The general mood in the Delta is that the system has been revitalised and this will give it a new look, which is what tourists would be happy to know.

The disaster management committee in Maun is working around the clock to prepare for any possible damage caused by the floods. The message from authorities is that people have to be alert at all times as the flood may take them by surprise.  Those who are staying on flood plains have also been urged to move to high ground.

In Chobe, meanwhile, the flood continues to cause havoc. Satau village is cut off from other villages as the road into the village has been flooded.  The water is also expected to cause further damage and authorities are advising people to move.

The traditional Chinese dragon dance is to be a feature of the street procession being held as part of the Maun Festival at the end of the month.  The Maun Chinese Society has confirmed the dance will be performed. In the dance, a team of people will carry the dragon and mimic the movement of a river spirit – the dragon's physical form is a combination of many animals, including the horns of an antelope, the ears of a bull, the eyes of a rabbit, the claws of a tiger and the scales of a fish all of which are on a long snake's body.

It is believed that dragons were amphibious and could move on land, fly through the air and swim in the sea as well as bringing good luck to people plus great power, dignity, fertility, wisdom and luck.  The dance is thought to have originated during the Han dynasty in China from about 202 BC to 220 AD, and was part of a ritual during harvesting.

The Chinese Society is debating how to perform the dance through Maun streets as the distance of the procession – about 2.5km – is long and exhausting for the performers.  The Festival starts on April 30, ending on May 2. Musical events are to be staged at the Sedia Riverside Hotel while a family day – incorporating a street parade and outdoor market as well as entertainment – takes place at the Power Station.

The spectacular Maun Festival will be held at two venues this year.  The music shows will be hosted by the Sedia Riverside Hotel while the Power Station will be the venue for craft stalls, the art market and the community and family day.  The organisers of the festival say the decision to split the venues has been taken so as to accommodate the community's needs.

Desmond Green, the Festival Organiser, said: “The focus of the activities at the Power Station will be centred on family fun and attractions for the whole of the Maun community. The Botswana Police band will provide some of the entertainment which will be supplemented by other acts including marimbas, traditional dance troupes, solo musicians and a fashion show.” Activities for the children include paintball, flying fox, toss-the-hoop, darts, face-painting and a number of games of chance and skill.

A “toddler tent” will be available so that parents can enjoy the fun of the fair for a few hours while their children are entertained and cared for by professional child minders. dsfdsfsdfsdffddf The stalls within the grounds of the Power Station will offer a range of goods for sale from pottery to home crafts, hand painted fabrics, traditional furniture, pot plants and more. Chinese, Indian and Tswana traditional food stalls have been booked and promises a variety to satisfy most appetites. No alcohol will be sold at the Power Station on the family day.

Artists and crafts people wishing to display their wares should contact the Festival office for more information, or visit the website: www.maunfestival.com .  Article from The Ngami Times.

 

The photo from space shows the water flooding into the Okavango Delta on March 24th, 2009 - the first of what could be the usual two peaks in a season. What a spike it has been. Water flow rates at Mohembo peaked in the 950-1000 cubes per second - one of the top one or two rates in the last 50 years. There is considerable flooding in and around Shakawe and this will spread down into the delta as the crest moves forward.

 

The Delta aready contains good water volumes. In Maun the Okavango River has been running now for 4 years - Like a return to the good old days. Lets see if this flood can make it to Orapa in July or August. If a second peak forms up - stay close to a boat. If your house is built on the melapo - forget.

 

 

 

 

The backbone of the Maun Festival is the street procession and this year it will take place on Saturday, May 2.  The procession, as with last year's Maun carnival, starts from outside the Power Station and will wind its way through more than 2km of the town's streets. Companies, government departments, schools, non-governmental organisations (NGO), trusts and parastatals have all been invited to take part. The theme for the parade is “Our vision of Vision 2016” and participants are being asked to transform their vehicles to represent one of the seven objectives of Vision 2016.

Organisations that would like to take part in the procession, or donate to the festival, can contact the organisers on website www.maunfestival.com, or telephone 686 3008.  The Festival is different in many respects from the carnival, and is celebrating a number of firsts: The first of its kind in Botswana, the first national advertising campaign for a festival, and the first time that the Botswana Tourism Board is promoting the festival.

 

   The objective of the event is to raise funds for three schools – Bana ba Metsi, Bana ba Letsatsi and Belega Bana – that rely on donations. The secondary objective is to promote music, art and culture as a viable contributor to the economy.

Fron The Ngami Times - March 20-27, 2009