If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience, you're going to need a guide. The author explains how to make the heavy metal festival happen.
The heavy metal scene in Gaborone is one of Africa's most exciting and welcoming music cultures and it's going to be moving to October 2022.
The event will be held in the village of Rakops in central Botswana. Whether you love metal or not, it promises to be a unique way to explore Africa.
The small festival is a base for visitors who want to explore the surrounding game reserves and go on heavy metal tours.
Everything you need to know about the event is here.
After two years of COVID-19 shutdowns, a heavy rock festival is returning to the country of Gaborone.
The village of Rakops will become the center of Gaborone's metal community on October 28-29. The organizers of the event are hoping to attract more foreigners than previous local rock festivals have. 500-600 fans are anticipated.
The first iteration of IRL will happen in 2022. It was supposed to launch in Rakops in 2020 but was delayed due to the swine flu.
Tshomarelo' Vulture' Mosaka is a member of the team behind Winter Metalmania Fest. He is a founding member of the band Overthrust.
There are a lot of things to do in Botswana.
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Nosey Road, who gained traction through the 1970s, is considered to be the pioneer of heavy metal in Africa.
Interest in heavy rock grew in the country thanks to foreigners who brought in records in the area. Nosey Road established a music festival in the 1990s, which led to the emergence of metal Orizon.
The band Overthrust was formed in 2008 to play old school metal. The first Winter Metalmania Fest was held in Ghanzi. There were fifty people in attendance.
People didn't understand what we were playing. People thought we were playing devil music. We didn't stop fighting.
Overthrust has written songs about dark subjects that are relevant to the country. More fans realized that addressing dark subjects did not make them immoral. The subjects are being brought to life through entertainment.
By the mid-2010s, a small, vibrant Botswana metal subculture had galvanized and was centered around local festivals. Local twists were added to the image template of metal's global uniform. The cowboy hats were popular for their tips to the cattle farming culture of Botswana.
We created a culture not only through music, but also through identity. You instantly connect if you see someone wearing a metal shirt. Band members and friends are the same.
The scene's coverage in the foreign-style press led to some fearing it was too enamored with US culture. Metal bands in Botswana often write music with rhythms that are very different from traditional US metal acts and use African instruments.
Global attention is welcome by Vulture. He works a day job to support his music and sees all coverage of the bands and festivals as a vital boost in an environment that is fueled by passion.
He saidBotswana metal bands can interact with musicians from other countries by attending the shows. They are given interviews and exposure. The shows make them want to continue.
Take a road trip to see the best of the country.
Heavy metal bands play on the main stage from 8pm on Friday and Saturday to 4am on Sunday.
Stane, Remuda, Humanitarian, PMMA, Alive N Bolder, and Bankrupt Souls will all be playing. They play like Judas Priest.
He said that they are older gentlemen, but they get crazy on stage. It's nice to see an older person play music.
Some bands from outside Africa are interested in getting involved in the festival. Gravpel is a black metal band from Switzerland.
DJs and other musicians will play on the site from Wednesday. Jazz, house and Kwaito music, which originated in South Africa, will be shown.
You can buy tickets for 100 pula or 120 pula. A t-shirt is included in the cost of a VIP ticket. You can get advance tickets through the Facebook page. There will be slightly higher priced tickets at the gate.
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There is plenty of time to travel to Rakops that day because the main stage bands start at 8pm. The main stage closes at 4am on Sunday. Food stalls and activities will be on the site from Wednesday.
Heavy metal festivals in Gaborone have raised money for good causes in the past. After seeing homeless children, vulture decided to start a festival. He saw children on the street. Some people didn't go to school. We should do something about it.
Money was raised for children's aid organizations. The metal fest will raise money for people with disabilities.
On the Saturday of the festival, bands and fans will march from the hospital. The procession will end with a money donation ceremony.
You won't see rock beasts like Mastadon or Scorpions, but you might see an animal nearby.
Animals can be seen in vehicles on the Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday of the festival week. Elephants, lions, cheetahs and crocodiles can be seen.
Fans and band members will be invited to attend the festival. The event has a Facebook page.
There will be food and drink at the festival. The meals should cost between 40 and 60 pula.
"Tourists like coffee too much" is the reason why organizers are bringing a coffee machine from Maun. The Okavango Craft Brewery is a seller of alcohol.
Fans will eat local food and drink at the festival site in order to win a competitive eating contest. It might not be the best way to start flailing your arms.
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If you're camping at the festival, it's a good idea to leave your luggage and valuables in a secure storage area. You should pack cash, hard-to- buy amenities, and luxuries in Rakops.
The temperature in Rakops in October can reach 93 degrees. You should bring a hat, sun slap and bug spray.
The music will be loud so make sure to wear ear protection. Any earplug protection is better than the professional ones.
There is a campsite at the festival site. The event tickets cost 120 pula in advance and can be booked on the Vulture Thrust Facebook page. You can purchase tickets that include campsite access.
If you stay just the Friday and Saturday nights, you will be able to see the core event.
Xere Lodge and Rakops River Lodge are two small hotels that are close to the event. Fans can reserve a hotel room through the festival's Facebook page. The cost of a room is around 600 pula.
There are a lot of ways to get around in Botswana.
There is a campsite in Rakops. The village is two hours southeast of Maun and is popular with tourists due to it's airport access.
You can either hire a car or take a bus from the bus station. If you want to know if the bus stops at Rakops should cost more than 70 pula, ask the drivers.
Take the unofficial metalhead express. "We're expecting a lot of metalheads to travel with their own vehicles from Maun to Rakops." You'll be able to identify them. You can ask for a ride; they are very friendly.
Don't fret, you won't be able to get to Vulture Thrust in October 2022. The Winter Metal Mania Fest is expected to come back in May of 2023 in Ghanzi.
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