Festivals & Events

1. Letsatsi la Boipuso

   Independence Day (Botswana Day, 30 September)

   Usage

   The national holiday for independence on 30 September 1966. The next day, 1 October, is also a day off. There are ceremonies, songs and dances around the country

   Grammar Note

   Setswana Wikipedia gives an example of the 50th anniversary of independence celebrated on 30 Lwetse (September). Letsatsi is a le- class noun, so its linker is la

2. Letsatsi la Tautona

   President's Day (July holiday)

   Usage

   A July public holiday, centred on a Monday. National arts competitions in song, choir and dance are held around it

   Grammar Note

   Setswana Wikipedia says the holiday falls on the third Monday of July (Phukwi) and mentions the Kgaisano ya Botaki ya Letsatsi la Tautona, the President's Day arts competition. Tautona is the dictionary word for president

3. Letsatsi la Keresemose

   Christmas Day (25 December)

   Usage

   A public holiday on 25 December when families gather. Many shops close

   Grammar Note

   Keresemose is a loan from English Christmas and is in the dictionary. Setswana Wikipedia writes Letsatsi la Keresemose. The month name is Sedimonthole (December)

4. Letsatsi la Ngwaga o Mosha

   New Year's Day (1 January)

   Usage

   The public holiday on 1 January. Shops and offices are closed

   Grammar Note

   Setswana Wikipedia has the form Letsatsi la Ngwaga o Mosha. Ngwaga is "year" and o mosha is the agreeing "new". January is Ferikgong

5. Paseka

   Easter

   Usage

   Easter, a long weekend from Friday to Monday, with many church services

   Grammar Note

   Paseka is in the dictionary (Matumo) and is also used for the Passover. It is an important holiday in Christian Botswana

6. Letsatsi la Babereki

   Labour Day (1 May)

   Usage

   A public holiday on 1 May honouring workers. Government offices and banks are closed

   Grammar Note

   Setswana Wikipedia writes Letsatsi la Babereki (or Badiri), and May is Motsheganong. Babereki comes from bereka, "work"

7. Moletlo wa Dithubaruba

   Dithubaruba Cultural Festival (near Molepolole)

   Usage

   A cultural festival celebrating Bakwena history at the Ntsweng Heritage Site near Molepolole, with songs, dance, poetry, traditional food and games

   Grammar Note

   Setswana Wikipedia writes moletlo wa dithubaruba and says it began in 2007. It is run through the Kgosi Sechele I Museum. The English name is Dithubaruba Cultural Festival

8. Dikgafela

   Dikgafela (thanksgiving offerings)

   Usage

   A Bakwena thanksgiving rite. Women carry home-brewed beer on their heads to the kgotla while an elder calls "dikgafela tse o!"

   Grammar Note

   Setswana Wikipedia describes it as part of Dithubaruba. Dikgafela is a plural form meaning offerings. Ask locally whether visitors may watch

9. Maitisong

   Maitisong (Gaborone performing arts festival)

   Usage

   A performing arts festival begun in 1987. For seven days at the end of March or start of April each year, plays, music and dance are staged in Gaborone

   Grammar Note

   In the dictionary (Matumo) maitiso is leisure and entertainment, and -ng is the locative ending. Setswana Wikipedia says it runs seven days in the last week of March or the first week of April. It is also the name of the Maitisong Theatre in Gaborone

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