Botswana is a country rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty. To showcase and safeguard this heritage, a team of highly experienced, dedicated creatives from Botswana and the UK, in partnership with the Government of Botswana, is bringing you Dhaa Botswana: Fashion, Craft and Culture. This annual event coincides with Botswana Tourism Expo, happening in Kasane, Botswana, from November 24th to 26th, 2023.
Dhaa Botswana is a groundbreaking, transformative annual event aimed at spotlighting and safeguarding Botswana’s traditional arts, crafts and culture with an emphasis on sustainability, exposure, investment opportunities, tourism, cross-sector engagement, upskilling, employment generation and national pride.
The event is a celebration of Pan-Africanism, inviting designers and artisans from across Africa and the African diaspora. It will demonstrate Africa’s global leadership in resources, sustainability, innovation, designs, community and heritage preservation.
According to Dhaa Botswana key spokesperson, Berry Heart, “after years of you travelling around the world, there will be a warm welcome from the Dhaa Botswana team. The first days in Botswana will be a colourful exploration of the calm yet vibrant Gaborone Capital. The city centre, with its unique architecture, has been designated as one of the safest cities in Africa. If you choose to fly to Kasane you will have the better advantage of Chobe Delta, Chobe River that cascades into the game reserve, a habitat of over 100, 000 herds of Elephants, great number of lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffalos, crocodiles, hippos, kudus, colourful birds and many other mammals and amphibians. A 500km drive away from Kasane to Nata village will find animals trod into twos and threes until you reach Kasane, that is when you will look forward to an evening/morning boat and game drive. Dhaa Botswana will offer you an experience rich in culture and creativity, an amazing human-animal coexistence!”
Dhaa Botswana is the brainchild of Kootshepile Motseonageng (also known as Berry Heart), a leading public figure in Botswana, a successful entrepreneur, brand ambassador, fashion designer, owner of Berry Heart Creations and Berry Heart Safaris, and a multi-award-winning artist, singer, and poet.
The event is also the brainchild of Ikanyeng Molemele, a highly accomplished consultant in financial services and information and communication technology, based between London and Botswana, with clients including the European Bank of Reconstruction Development, Botswana National Development Bank, M&G Prudential, Vodafone, British Telecom, among others. Michael Burgess, previously a senior diplomat, has been the programme and business development lead, event producer and advisor for key Africa-focused organisations in the UK and Europe, including Africa Fashion Week London and Nigeria, the Africa Centre, the Royal African Society, Tate Museums, Victoria & Albert Museum, the Africa in London Committee, among others.
He is also the co-founder and director of one of the UK’s highly regarded social enterprises, Creative Resilience International, which specialises in production and development, promoting and empowering creatives in art, design, and culture from Black and underrepresented communities.
