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

Top music groups have signed contracts to perform at the Maun Festival at the end of April. They include “Dikakapa”, Botswana's most powerful traditional group (pictured) , local performers “Galephirime” (traditional), “Remuda” (rock) and "Mr Thapson" (guitar folk), and “Banjo Mosele and the Veterans”.  Desmond Green, the festival organiser, said the event was destined to be “the finest music and cultural celebration to be held in the country. “Top acts in four popular music genres will be catered for in a festival of music lasting 22 hours over the Labour Day weekend of April 30-May 2.

“Jazz, rock, traditional and popular African contemporary music performances will be held at the open-air stage at the Sedia Riverside Hotel in Maun on May 1 and 2.”  Seventeen acts are due to perform, and Green added: “It is our intention to provide a vehicle for the growth, promotion and development of art, music and culture, and as the Maun Festival grows, so the variety of performers and performances will grow.

Speaking from Norway, Banjo Mosele confirmed that his group, “Banjo Mosele and the Veterans” had signed a contract to play at the Maun Festival on May 2. Mosele, guitarist, singer and composer, was born at Kanye and is a founder member of the “Kalahari Band”, a group that backed South African star Hugh Masekela in the early 1980s. He has worked as a session musician with Jonas Gwangwa, Peter Gabriel and Barney Rachabane, and formed and led the “Bushmen Don't Surf” group that made a name for itself in the United Kingdom performing at various festivals, including the Glastonbury festival.

Article from The Ngami Times March 13-20, 2009

Festivals of music, art and culture throughout the world – and soon to be held in Maun, too - have proven to be a socio-economic contributor to tourism and the general economies of villages, towns, and cities.   Festivals are promoted in major cities on all continents and are a showcase for the creative arts - from the performing arts to visual arts, (including cinema), festivals, awards and recognition of the creative talents of the people living in our communities are marketed and celebrated.

Most will have heard of the Grammy's and the Oscars.  These two awards ceremonies recognise the best that the world has to offer in the music and cinema industries. Before achieving the highest accolade in their respective genres, artists have a long road to travel.  Usually starting in school productions, the dedicated and talented artists proceed through regional and national showcases before being “spotted” by the talent scout that launches them on the road to success.  This is where festivals play their role, attracting prospective stars and hopefuls who present their wares to the public.

So how does this benefit tourism?

The Bushfire Festival in Swaziland, now in its 3rd year, attracted 8 500 people in 2008.   All of these people needed place to sleep, something to eat, and had to get to the venue from all over Swaziland and from across the border.  It is estimated that R12-million (about P10-million) was contributed to the economy over the three days.

Maun, as the tourism capital of Botswana, has tourist activities that extend beyond music, art and culture into the mainstream of tourism. Companies that organise horse riding, kayaking, bird walks and day excursions by boat, mokoro or safari vehicle into our wilderness areas have packages to suit most pockets and complement the Maun Festival's attractions.

For more information on the Maun Festival, please visit our website www.maunfestival.com

Article from The Ngami Times