Last Saturday’s GIMC Jazz Festival at Bojanala Waterfront delivered an afternoon and evening of music, nostalgia and resilience as thousands gathered for one of the flagship events of Gaborone International Music and Culture Week (GIMC). The festival brought together an eclectic mix of local, regional and international talent, including American R&B legend Karyn White, South African songstress Amanda Black, Botswana favourites Sereetsi and the Natives, Ezra Neethings, Han-C, and a selection of DJs who kept the energy alive between performances.

If there was a defining image of this year’s festival, it was not the dark clouds gathering overhead, but the sight of music lovers dancing and singing through the rain before eventually seeking shelter as the downpour intensified.

Friends and families spread out on the lawns and soaked in the atmosphere as they enjoyed the music. Then came the rain. Heavy showers disrupted the event well into the night, sending patrons scrambling for cover and forcing a halt the remaining performances. But the larger part of the evening had belonged to the music before the heavy showers. Karyn White’s performance provided a dose of nostalgia, while local and regional artists showcased the diversity that has become synonymous with GIMC.

If there was a defining image of this year’s festival, it was not the dark clouds gathering overhead, but the sight of music lovers dancing and singing through the rain before eventually seeking shelter as the downpour intensified.