Banana Club, a non-profit organisation committed to critical dialogue across contemporary art and human rights, has announced the full line-up for its inaugural Economic Inclusion Forum, taking place on Friday, 24 October 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Gaborone.
This pioneering convening brings together leaders from business, policy, and culture to explore inclusion as an economic growth strategy. With Botswana as its hub, the Forum reimagines how equity, identity, and innovation can unlock sustainable development and resilient markets across Southern Africa.
The keynote address will be delivered by Kefilwe Mokone, Senior HR Manager – Cultural Transformation, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at Debswana Diamond Company, under the theme “Inclusion as Economic Strategy: Building Resilient, Future-Ready Markets.”
Mokone will be joined by a powerful roster of regional voices including Sylvester Chauke (Founder, DNA Brand Architects, South Africa), Vincent Morweng (Managing Director, Assure Wealth), Letlhogonolo Moremi (Founder, ParkGrey IP), Bokang Bane (Founding Executive Director, Queer WorX, Lesotho), Andiswa Dlamini (Founder, The Other Village, South Africa), and Yuck Miranda (Founder, Ulayo Queer Festival, Mozambique), among others.
Across four panels, the Forum will unpack how inclusive business practices, enabling legal frameworks, market access, and cultural production can collectively drive a more equitable and innovative Southern African economy.
The day will culminate in a Cocktail Reception hosted with Aperol Spritz, followed by the Banana Club Block Party – a women DJ-led cultural fundraiser at Court Five – and the Femme DJ Masterclass at Zest Restaurant the following morning, extending the Forum’s conversations into creative action.
Based in Botswana and rooted in Sub-Saharan Africa, Banana Club champions emerging artistic voices through accessible platforms, bold programming, and socially engaged storytelling. As it advances this mission, the organisation situates its work within the growing global “Pink Economy,” valued at over USD 4.3 trillion — a testament to the immense potential of inclusive markets. By localising this momentum into what it calls the “Pink Pula,” Banana Club envisions a Botswana where creative industries, tourism, and SMEs expand through equitable participation, turning inclusion into measurable growth
“For far too long, Botswana has taken a passive role in the conversation around inclusion and economic transformation,” says Tanlume Enyatseng, Founder and Creative Director of Banana Club. “This Forum is a call to action — a space to reimagine growth through the lenses of equity, creativity, and identity. Inclusion isn’t charity; it’s good business. The ‘Pink Pula’ represents a future economy where everyone’s participation contributes to national prosperity.”
The Banana Club Economic Inclusion Forum is supported by The Other Foundation, LEGABIBO, Degree Beverages, and partners across Botswana’s private and creative sectors.
