News
EBW joins #GautengMeansBusiness for a bumper #SportingGP, #MusicalGP and Business Events Calendar
Johannesburg – Gauteng is the place to be this week – with a power-packed calendar of quality events to suit every lifestyle, budget, and business event planning.
From #SportingGP and #MusicalGP to #GPLifestyle and #GautengMeansBusiness, the week will see Gauteng displaying its best all with the aim of building a competitive events city region and injecting an estimated R500 million into the provincial visitor economy in just under a week.
The line-up of world-class events kicks off this Thursday with the Kyalami 9-Hour and K9H Motorfest. Get ready for an action-packed three days of family-friendly activations, entertainment, networking opportunities, and racing that drives the Gauteng economy to pole position.
If entertainment is more your thing make sure you attend the Showbiz Entertainment Africa (SEAAfrica) Conference taking place on 24 February – it is the ultimate business to business meeting place for talent, managers, entrepreneurs, businesses, and other role-players in the entertainment industry. It is befitting that, destination Gauteng is playing host to this conference as the province is undoubtedly the home to Africa’s sports entertainment industry. EBW’s own Obakeng Kokwe & entertainment entrepreneur Mdu Tha Party will be out taking part in this series of events, which brings in top voices from across Africa to Gauteng, the ultimate business meeting place.
Kunye Festival is back at its Head Office in Sandton, Joburg and it is supported by Africa’s biggest derby in Soweto, where Kaizer Chiefs will clash with Orlando Pirates (both on 25 February), to the Proteas taking on the West Indies at SuperSport Park (28 February to 4 March) and Meetings Africa 2023 (the continent’s premier business events trade show) – Gauteng is buzzing.
Meetings Africa will be hosted from 27 February to 1 March at the Sandton Convention Centre and will see exhibitors and business events organisers showcasing their offerings to international and local buyers, African associations and corporate planners, incentives travel market, local and international media and regional and national governments representatives.
The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) aims to position Gauteng as an all-round leisure destination as it plays host to major business, sport, entertainment, musical and lifestyle events. Events are the key drivers of tourism recovery and economic growth in Gauteng. “With the sector recovering, the consistent hosting of quality events in Gauteng will serve as an ignition point for the visitor economy rebound”, explained GTA Chief Executive Officer Sthemniso Dlamini.
GTA strives to use these events and platforms to reintroduce the province’s destination offerings, repair the destination brand, and drive increased visitation, tourism revenue and jobs in line with the Growing Gauteng Together (GGT) vision 2030.
In all these events, SMMEs beneficiation, the safety of visitors and residents, enterprise and supplier development and inclusion of townships, hostels and informal settlements remain GTA’s top priority. Using these global platforms, GTA is building meaningful connections with local, regional, and overseas markets, and the plan is to make these events a 24/7, 365 days experience.
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/41f99sh or @visitgauteng on Instagram, twitter and tiktok and I love gauteng on facebook and Gauteng Tourism Authority on LinkedIn.
Enquiries: Barba Gaoganediwe, Spokesperson Gauteng Tourism 0834467844
barba@gauteng.net
@Barba_G74 on twitter
124 Main Street, Marshalltown, Johannesburg www.gauteng.net
Paris Fashion Week became a little more Botswana this October as actress, media personality, and creative entrepreneur Marang Selolwane graced the MAXHOSA AFRICA runway.
Taking to social media, Marang shared her pride in representing Botswana on one of fashion’s biggest stages:
“From Africa to Paris, walking for MAXHOSA was more than fashion; it was a statement. It was history in motion. A celebration of culture, creativity, and connection, shared with my beautiful besties.”
The show, themed #ThePinkTableParis, was a striking celebration of African luxury and craftsmanship — hallmarks of the South African brand MAXHOSA AFRICA, founded by visionary designer Laduma Ngxokolo. Known for its bold knitwear and cultural storytelling, MAXHOSA’s presence in Paris signaled not only a creative milestone for African design but also a moment of pride for the continent’s creative community.
A Botswana Creative on Global Stages
For Marang, this runway wasn’t just about fashion. It symbolized the global rise of Batswana creativity — a reminder that Botswana’s creative talent is ready to be seen, celebrated, and included in global conversations around art, fashion, and culture.
As one of Botswana’s most recognizable creative figures, Marang has seamlessly blended media, entrepreneurship, and fashion throughout her career. Her appearance on the Paris runway reinforces her status as a cultural ambassador, showing that authenticity and representation go hand-in-hand with glamour and grace.
A Celebration of Culture and Connection
The MAXHOSA Paris show was more than a collection — it was a cultural movement. Through vibrant colors, intricate beadwork, and bold silhouettes, the runway showcased Africa’s ability to set trends rather than follow them.
Marang’s participation was not only symbolic of her own journey but also a statement of solidarity with African creatives redefining luxury and identity.
“It was history in motion,” she wrote — and indeed it was. From Gaborone to Paris, this moment reflects the global heartbeat of African creativity.
Botswana to the World
Marang Selolwane’s runway debut for MAXHOSA is more than a personal win — it’s a national moment. It affirms that Botswana’s creative industry has a place at the global table, and that its voices — expressive, grounded, and dynamic — continue to resonate beyond borders.
From Botswana to the world, Marang Selolwane walks not just in style, but in purpose.
Few stories capture the grit and artistry of Botswana’s creative scene like that of Mophato Dance Theatre. Their recent journey to the Cheonan World Dance Festival 2025 in South Korea, where they finished fourth out of thirty-eight global contenders, is not just a result to celebrate—it is a reflection of years of discipline, leadership, and unwavering belief in the power of dance.
Mophato has long stood as one of Botswana’s cultural exports, carrying stories rooted in tradition yet alive with contemporary energy. Their performances are more than choreography; they are carefully woven narratives where rhythm, athleticism, and emotion collide. Every sequence speaks of long nights in the rehearsal room, the resilience to keep going, and the hunger to represent Botswana with excellence on the world stage.
Central to this journey is Andrew Letso Kola, the visionary guiding Mophato with both discipline and care. His leadership has transformed the company into more than a dance troupe—it is now a collective that inspires young people to see possibility in their craft, to understand that discipline and creativity can open doors across borders. After Cheonan, his message to the team was clear: that their art and spirit have already made them champions, regardless of scorecards.
What makes Mophato remarkable is not only what they do on stage, but the hard work behind it. From raising funds to travel, to the countless hours of practice, to holding themselves accountable to the highest standards—Mophato embodies perseverance. And in doing so, they carry all of us along with them, showing that Botswana’s artistic voices can stand proudly in global arenas.
Their fourth-place finish at Cheonan is a milestone, but it is not the end. It is part of a bigger story—a story of Botswana’s creativity pushing boundaries, demanding recognition, and inspiring others to dream bolder. Mophato Dance Theatre reminds us that success is not just about trophies or rankings—it’s about impact, influence, and the courage to keep dancing forward.
Botswana’s own Sandi has proudly announced on Facebook that he contributed guitar work to Shekhinah’s surprise album Less Trouble. While the full scope of his input remains under wraps, we know for sure he played the chords on the album’s intro — a warm, string-led start that sets the tone for a soulful, collaborative project.
Less Trouble brings together an impressive lineup of talent. Featured artists include Lordkez, Mars Baby, Moliy, and Young Stunna, while the producer roster boasts names like Brendon-Lee Johnson, Gregory Abrahams, I’m Not Goofy, Master A Flat, Mzizi, NellzKxhris, Roark Bailey, Rudolph Willemse, Shekhinah, and Vuyo.
We celebrate Sandi for representing Botswana on an album stacked with some of Africa’s most exciting voices. Congratulations!
