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FEBRUARY 28, 2023 – GABORONE, BOTSWANA -National Geographic Society (NGS) and De Beers, through their Okavango Eternal partnership, today announced the world premiere of the groundbreaking documentary film Nkashi: Race for the Okavango will take place at dual events in Maun and Gaborone, Botswana on March 7 th and 9 th respectively. The film, made in Setswana in collaboration with Batswana filmmakers, showcases the wonder and importance of the Okavango Delta and Botswana to the world and will be officially introduced by His Excellency, Dr. Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, at the Gaborone event.
The television world premiere of the film will take place on Botswana Television’s BTV 1 channel on March 9 th at 8 p.m. local time.
Nkashi: Race for the Okavango tells the story of three mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) polers in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. As they prepare for the annual Nkashi Classic – a time-trial race, founded in 2018 by the Botswana Wild Bird Trust (BWBT), that attracts the fastest mokoro polers in the Delta – they also contend with grief, the local impacts of climate change, and the urgency of preserving the tradition of the mokoro and nkashi for the next generation.
“The Okavango Delta is globally known as home to captivating wildlife. But films made in the Okavango Delta have rarely told the stories of its extraordinary people, who have been protecting our water, wildlife, and traditions since the beginning of time,” said Thalefang Charles, a producer of the film and National Geographic Explorer. “It’s incredibly powerful that Nkashi: Race for the Okavango celebrates mokoro polers and their stories, in their own language. I’m delighted that with the platforms of BTV and community screenings, Batswana, especially the people from Okavango, will finally see a film that was made in their own communities.”
Nkashi: Race for the Okavango and the annual Nkashi Classic race are made possible by Okavango Eternal, a five-year partnership between National Geographic and De Beers to help protect the source waters of the Okavango Delta and the lives and livelihoods they support. The film was created by the Impact Story Lab, an award-winning, creative unit within NGS, in close collaboration with Batswana filmmakers and local production company, Parable Motion. Several Batswana led key roles in the film’s creation, including cinematographer, producer, sound recordist, and drone pilot. The film score also features tracks by Motswana musician Thato Kavinja and the Nature Environment & Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) Composers Lab.
“At the National Geographic Society, we are working to ensure a brighter, healthier future for our planet and its people. It’s why we are so deeply committed to helping protect the Okavango Basin – one of the most critical conservation efforts in Africa," said Jill Tiefenthaler, Chief Executive Officer of the National Geographic Society. “Nkashi: Race for the Okavango exemplifies the power of storytelling to shine a light on the people whose lives and livelihoods are deeply connected to this vital ecosystem. We are honored to work with the community members featured in this film, the local storytellers who made it possible, and our Explorers and partners who engage, educate, and advocate for the preservation of the Okavango Delta and its headwaters."
Al Cook, CEO of De Beers Group, said, “Botswana is a country of natural beauty, unique culture, and inspiring stories. De Beers has been a partner of Botswana’s people for more than 50 years and we are proud to join with National Geographic to highlight the importance of the Okavango Delta and the essential work of the communities who preserve it. Botswana’s long and highly successful track record of conservation – and the irreplaceable role of the Okavango Delta in the regional ecosystem – are well known locally, and through ‘Nkashi: Race for the Okavango’ we are privileged to help share this story.”
ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content. To learn more, visit www.nationalgeographic.org or follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
ABOUT OKAVANGO ETERNAL Okavango Eternal is a partnership between National Geographic and De Beers to help address one of Africa’s most critical conservation challenges: protecting the source waters of the Okavango Delta. Over the course of five years, De Beers is working together with National Geographic by providing support, expertise and funding toexpand and accelerate work already underway, helping to establish sustainable local livelihoods in harmony with the Okavango Basin’s conservation. The five-year partnership aims to help protect Africa’s endangered species, ensure water and food security for more than one million people and develop livelihood opportunities for 10,000 people.
More details of the Okavango Eternal partnership are available atwww.nationalgeographic.com/okavango-eternal and https://www.debeers.com/en-us/okavangoeternal.html
ABOUT DE BEERS GROUP Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining and marketing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of the De Beers Group strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and De Beers Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions, such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives GemFair and Tracr. De Beers Group is committed to ‘Building Forever,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit www.debeersgroup.com.
CONTACTS
For National Geographic Society
Steph Miceli, Senior Manager, Impact Communications smiceli@ngs.org or +1 617 943 9510 (mobile and Whatsapp)
The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content. To learn more, visit www.nationalgeographic.org or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.