Mohalenyane Phakela
THIS year’s edition of the Morija Arts and Cultural Festival has been postponed indefinitely owing to the political instability currently rocking the Mountain Kingdom, organisers, Morija Museum and Archives (MMA), have said this week.
The Morija Arts & Cultural Festival, which is the biggest arts festival in Lesotho, was set to start tomorrow in the picturesque village of Morija, about 45km south of the capital Maseru and end on Friday.
However, according to MMA, safety concerns have precipitated the decision to defer the festival to a yet unstated date.
“The festival encompasses a nationwide schools cultural competition which can only be held between 25 and 28 September according to the national school calendar, so most parents are reluctant to release their children when there is this instability because they fear for their safety,” MMA’s events manager, Lineo Segoete said.
“The festival’s usual timeframe had been reduced from two weeks to a week this year, so eliminating the schools competition would made it even shorter while also changing the theme of the festival, which is celebrating culture.”
As a result, MMA resolved it would not be wise to bring children from the 10 districts of Lesotho when there is no resolution regarding the security situation in the country.
“When we launched the Festival on 27 August, it was with the expectation that all of the remaining preparations for the festival would fall into place, but the existing climate in the country has made this very difficult,” read a MMA press release.
“A large festival requires coordination and the active collaboration of a wide range of partners and sponsors if it is to succeed and achieve the intended results. Clearly the current situation in Lesotho has not been conducive to this process.”
According to MMA, the Mohlomi Memorial Lecture, art and craft exhibitions, book launches, poetry sessions, wire car competitions, film, theatre and fashion events have re-scheduled to a later dates in consultation with sponsors, partners and stakeholders.
“Moreover, we find it unfit and lacking in foresight to call thousands of students from all corners of Lesotho to participate in the School Cultural Competitions which culminate in Morija in late September, when the political and security situation in the country changes from one day to the next.
MMA said they intend to hold a mini-festival at a later date, or a series of smaller events if the political climate stabilises.
“It is ironic perhaps, that an event which was established in 1999 as a positive call to unity and tolerance, to pride in our roots as well as a forward-looking and progressive culture, should now have to be postponed because of a resurgence of intolerance, animosity and an inability to chart a positive way forward,” MMA argued.
MMA further stated that they would conduct a strategic planning exercise between October and November to examine how to re-structure the festival and other creative activities to encourage greater participation, especially among the youth.
The exercise will be in line with the festival’s goal to redefine itself and develop a stronger platform for sustainable cultural industries, creativity, and a vibrant arts scene in the country.