There is a community of Batswana in the UK who like to get together to celebrate their culture. Botswana Community UK supports them by organising activities such as Botswana Independence Day Celebrations in London. It is a non profit-making organisation which is run by Boikanyo Phenyo, Kabelo James and Aubrei Woki with the help of many other dedicated members who are mainly Batswana living in the UK.
Their mission is to:
– promote the culture and tradition of Botswana in the UK
– market Botswana to Europe, and the World
– promote and support Botswana talent, arts, culture and tourism
– contribute towards the growth of Botswana
– provide a platform for Batswana living in UK and Europe
– provide a platform for Botswana artists, designers etc to sell their products and services in Europe
– promote a multi-cultural society.
You can see previously organised events on our facebook page and our website which include Independence Day celebrations from 2012 to 2017. The 2016 celebration was particularly memorable because the day before, on the actual date of the 50th anniversary of Botswana Independence Day, many Batswana including Botswana Community UK committee members joined in with a march to the Botswana High Commission organised by the TV program Black and British – A Forgotten History for the presentation of a plaque with the inscription:
“In 1895, chiefs Khama III, Sebele I & Bathoen I toured Britain to protect their homelands from colonisation. Their action led to the modern state of Botswana”.
This year we celebrated Bots 50+2 at Stockport in Manchester. A team of Batswana volunteered their time and finances for the benefit of all Batswana in the UK. This dedicated group was led by Happy Cross and her wonderful team: Lorato Ositang, Bonatla Morupisi, Patricia Sekgopi and Tebogo Koontle We danced, we sang and we dined till morning. Our friends and families from other cultures joined us and it was a time full of happy moments for all of us. Our awesome poet Mabitso from Leeds, the amazing traditional group from Scotland led by Dorcus Lange and our sublime Motswana lady DJ Sylvie Dee from Pamtengo Radio provided the perfect kind of entertainment we needed to keep us motivated all night. The atmosphere was captured in pictures using our mobile phones – click below to see the slide show!
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Botswana Community UK has organised their first networking event which will take place at The Wesley Euston Hotel & Conference Venue in London on Saturday 6th October. Over 100 exhibitors and attendees are expected for this exciting event which includes entertainment from the African Marimba Band. We feel this kind of event is crucial for Batswana to work together, meet regularly and get to know & support each other’s businesses.
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Another interesting event coming up – an art exhibition in the heart of London to showcase one of Botswana’s talented artist Qaeahao from Dikara, Gantsi District. This is organised by Lubu art a brain child of Ikanyeng Molemele.
Lubu Art presents The Salt Pan of African Exhibition during the Black History Month. 20/10/18 – 26/10/18. Artists Qaeahao from Dikara, Gantsi District and Taiwo from Lagos Nigeria . Gallery: 66 Great Suffolk Street. Bankside. London SE1 0BL.