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Local artists lined up for Aranda festival

by Lesotho Times
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MASERU — Musicians Puseletso Seema, Nthakoana Ngatane and Papa Zee will be part of the entertainment package at the Third Aranda Blanket Cultural Festival on July 10.
The gala will be hosted by Aranda Textiles at Maseru Club.
The event is being celebrated under the theme, Liboko tsa ma-apara kobo a matle, loosely translated “Clans of the blanket wearers”.
The event co-ordinator, Nthakoana Ngatane, told the Weekender the event will feature new activities to cater for the whole family.
“This year the event is going to have a ‘kiddies fun section’ where children will learn a thing or two about shearing of wool.
“There will also be an exhibition to promote art in the country,” Ngatane said.
“The exhibition is targeted at amateur artistes who will depict the blanket wearing tradition in either paintings or photographs.”
The winner of the competition will win a scholarship to study fine arts at a foreign college with the tuition being paid for by Aranda Textiles.
Ngatane said the highlight of the gala would be the crowning of the Clan of the Year.
The public will choose the most popular clan in the country via a Short Message Service (Sms) campaign.
A new blanket will be designed for the winning clan after the event.
“Learning the importance of clans in Basotho culture, Aranda has initiated a campaign of crowning the clan of the year.
“The Sms campaign will run until July 8 then votes from the public will determine the winning clan,” Ngatane said.
She added that unlike in the past when the event was free “there is going to be a cover charge at the gate”.
“There is no celebration without food in Basotho culture so we are trying to meet all needs and provide food during the day.”
The concert will see local artistes performing a variety of music genres such as hip hop, choral, famo and afro soul.
“The likes of Papa Zee, Serumula Performing Arts Academy, Puseletso Seema and myself have been billed to grace the entertainment section of the event,” Ngatane said.
Tickets will be sold for M20 at all Aranda dealers countrywide.
“The event is intended to preserve the blanket-wearing tradition so we have distributed our tickets throughout the country to have all Basotho participate.
“We want the rural people who are still practising the blanket-wearing tradition to come and celebrate with us,” Ngatane said.
She told the Weekender that next year the event is going to be held outside Maseru.
“Next year, the event is going to move to another district to target Basotho outside Maseru,” she said.
Puseletso Ramokhothu from local radio station, PC FM, will be this year’s emcee.
“We are trying hard to keep it a fully Basotho event so our guests will be from within the country.
“All the models participating at the Blanket Fashion Show will be Basotho,” Ngatane added.

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