A Decade of Building an Urban Creative Kgotla
Based in Gaborone, Botswana, our journey began a decade ago with a simple but ambitious vision: to reimagine the city’s oldest and most overlooked public shopping space into a vibrant hub for creativity, culture, community engagement, and social interaction.
Ten years ago, we presented a proposal to the Gaborone City Council advocating for the adoption of innovative and creative approaches to revitalizing the city centre open spaces. At the heart of this proposal was the concept of an Urban Creative Kgotla– a modern adaptation of Botswana’s traditional kgotla system, where people gather to share ideas, engage in dialogue, celebrate culture, and collectively shape their communities. Our belief was that public spaces could serve not only as commercial centres but also as platforms for creativity, cultural exchange, entrepreneurship, and social cohesion.
The space we chose we named it the Diamond Square. Once a bustling centre of activity, the area had gradually become underutilized and overlooked. Rather than viewing this as a challenge, we saw it as an opportunity to demonstrate how creativity could breathe new life into forgotten urban spaces.
Guided by principles of sustainability and green living, we transformed the area using recycled materials, including discarded tyres and wooden pallets and colour. These materials were repurposed into functional and attractive urban furniture, creating a welcoming environment that encouraged people to gather, interact, and spend time in the space. What emerged was a unique pop-up park that quickly became a destination for residents and visitors alike.
The transformed space attracted a variety of activities and small businesses, including a coffee kiosk, open-air art exhibitions, creative markets, and informal discussion forums. Under the shade of a tree, people from different backgrounds could meet, share ideas, enjoy art, and engage in meaningful conversations. The project demonstrated how simple, low-cost interventions could significantly enhance the quality and functionality of public spaces.
As the initiative grew, Diamond Square evolved into more than just a community park-it became a cultural crossroads. Recognizing Botswana’s increasingly diverse and interconnected society, we began curating events that celebrated global cultures while strengthening local identity.
One of our most successful initiatives was the development of an Independence Day Cultural Exchange Programme. Through this programme, we invited embassies, cultural organizations, and international communities residing in Botswana to bring elements of their national celebrations into the public space. The result was a dynamic environment where citizens could experience different cultures through music, food, fashion, language, dance, and art.
What made these interactions particularly meaningful was their accessibility. Visitors often encountered cultural experiences unexpectedly while simply passing through the space, creating opportunities for spontaneous learning, appreciation, and connection. Diamond Square became a place where cultural exchange happened naturally and inclusively.
In 2021, we were honoured to host the celebration of Europe Day in partnership with the European Union delegation. The event transformed Diamond Square into a lively platform for dialogue, entertainment, and cultural engagement. The success of the event attracted widespread interest and support, including participation by the Mayor of Gaborone, further validating the role of public creative spaces in fostering community development and international cooperation.
Inspired by this success, we continued to expand our programming by proposing to hosting Africa Day celebrations, aimed at bringing the continent’s rich cultural diversity into one shared space. Through food exhibitions, fashion showcases, live performances, art displays, storytelling sessions, and language exchanges, visitors to be given the opportunity to experience the beauty and diversity of Africa in an open and welcoming environment.
The impact of Diamond Square continued to gain recognition both locally and internationally. In 2021, the European Union once again partnered with us for International Human Rights Day celebrations. The event further reinforced the space’s role as a platform for important conversations around inclusion, human rights, civic participation, and community empowerment. Reflecting on the significance of the collaboration, the EU Office shared the following statement:
“We want to support the young people who are running Diamond Square and who, by their initiative, are contributing to a joyful and relaxing atmosphere in the Main Mall.”
This endorsement highlighted the value of youth-led placemaking initiatives and the role they can play in transforming urban environments.
In 2022, the project received national recognition when it was featured in the Innovate Botswanapublication, a book documenting some of Botswana’s most innovative and impactful initiatives. Being included among the country’s notable innovation projects affirmed the project’s contribution to creative urban development, community engagement, and social innovation.
Today, after more than ten years of nurturing this creative ecosystem, Diamond Square stands as a living example of what can be achieved when communities, local authorities, creatives, entrepreneurs, and development partners work together to reimagine public spaces.
As Botswana prepares to celebrate 60 years of Independence this September, we believe there is no better moment to build on this legacy. This milestone presents a unique opportunity to once again bring the world together in this creative urban kgotla,to gather and celebrate the “Kgotla System” concept. For one special day, Diamond Square can become a global village where cultures meet, stories are shared, friendships are formed, and communities celebrate both their differences and their shared humanity.
Through music, food, fashion, art, language, dance, and dialogue, we envision a vibrant shared space, showcasing its openness to the world. More importantly, it to reaffirm the power of public spaces as places of connection, learning, creativity, and unity.
Facebook: i heart gabs city | https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dy7xjfQrS/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Instagram: iheartgabscity
Recent Comments