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OYO takes two stage plays to Botswana

OYO takes two stage plays to Botswana

The Ombetja Yehinga Organisation (OYO) dance troupe has been invited to be the guest of honour at the Maitisong Festival in Gaborone, Botswana, where they will be performing two repertoire pieces, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Moirai’ on 14 April 2016. ‘Teacher’ interprets intergenerational sex and ‘Moirai’ dissects gender violence.
“These two repertoire pieces represent some of the social issues about which OYO creates awareness” explained Dr Philippe Talavera, the Director and Founder of OYO. He is also the choreographer of both ‘Teacher’ and ‘Moirai’.
Mr Gao Lemmenyane, the Maitisong Festival director explained that the theme for this year’s festival is “Engage at the Maitisong Festival”, challenging festival performers and audiences to find a space within the activities to network. “Festival participants have the chance to grapple with issues raised by art in the different forms and disciplines that they will witness, and for them to be proactive in creating meaning for themselves,” he said adding that skill exchange programmes can take place and festival participants advocating for similar social issues can learn from one another.
Ten OYO dance troupe dancers will perform at the Maitisong Festival accompanied by Joshua Homateni as production manager and Dr Talavera. The festival is an annual event and this year it runs from 11 to 16 April. Its general popularity is demonstrated by the fact that it has become the biggest arts festival in Gaborone. Local and international artist bring theatre, dance, poetry and comedy to fee-paying audiences in several festival venues around Botswana’s capital city.
The OYO dance troupe was incepted in 2008 and comprises nine dancers and tree understudies. According to Dr Talavera, it is the first troupe in Namibia employing dancers as performers.

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