The Bakgatla ba ga Makapane says the annual ‘Diturupa’ celebrations play an important role in social cohesion.
The Makapanstad community and surrounding villages come together in song, drums and dance to celebrate the end of the year.
The North West provincial government is a partner in the management of diturupa celebrations.
In 2018, more than 4 000 people attended to watch 30 groups perform at an open field, not far from the Makapan royal homestead.
The Bakgatla Chief Nchaupe 3rd, says, “It started hundred years ago during World 1. Some of our people went to war. Some came back. Some didn’t. So, from that time on 26th December people had to come to royal kraal to greet the chief and to tell the chief they survived and to tell the chief that their grandfathers and grandmothers didn’t come back. It was a day of unity in the village. It helps us with uniting the community. It helps us to keep kids away from drugs, things they do these days.”
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