Edward Tsumele

Edward Tsumele

The sleepy village of Tafelkop in Limpopo was awakened by spirited African drumming at the yearly Pulo Ya Meropa festival at the weekend.

Starting on Friday evening with a spiritual ceremony that introduced the makoti of the festival organiser, Diviner Mpubane Julius Rakgetse, the festival continued with the main programme on Saturday and ended on Sunday. By the time it ended the festival had attracted hordes of people from the local community as well as the rest of the country and also people from overseas.

Mainly local traditional groups perform poetry, present traditional theatrical pieces and engage in animated drumming sessions, but this year drumming groups from outside the area were invited for the first time in its 11-year history.

This has given the festival the impetus to become a national festival with the potential to rival some of the biggest festivals in the country.

To spice up the drumming sessions, initiates of traditional healer Rakgetse paraded in their colourful costumes accompanied by spiritual drums, led by their leader, the influential local traditional healer Rakgetse.

Saturday was the highlight of the festival. There was an impressive presentation by Macks Papo, playwright and television personality, and his Mudaphote Production crew, featuring Pops Mahammed.