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 The fore-bearers may not have had classified music genres, but they definitely had their own music, from instruments which did not require huge sums of money to own. One of these is Segaba, the beloved instrument of 75-year-old Tsilwana Mmapogo of Tlokweng. Sitting under a mopipi tree with a 10-year-old boy next to him holding seditse, he puts on an animal skin and starts playing his instrument. Segaba is a traditional instrument made from a tin, plank and strings. “I started playing segapa in 1960. I was invited to play during Independence Day celebrations in 1966,” Mmapogo says. This was the last time he got an invitation to play. But he believes that he holds original songs, like those of Ratsie Setlhako. He told Showbiz that he always sees different artistes being interviewed on Btv and articles written about them in newspapers but he has never been invited to share his wealth of experience in the industry, particularly in playing segaba.
When playing his best traditional songs, Mmapogo shows a passion that proves that Botswana still has old men capable of holding their own even in cultural music competitions. He plays songs that most people in society can relate with. One of his songs, ‘ka bidikama’ is good for people travelling long distances. “It shortens my trip when I visit places like Molepolole on foot or when I am herding cattle,” he said. He informed Showbiz that the song is a shorter version of one Ratsie Setlhako’s works. Mmapogo says one of his best songs is ‘Mongwaketsi Nkadima Pere’.It is his favourite. It is a song that the older generation of Marabediba lands in Tlokweng can relate to. He says the song is played during the rainy period when the elderly are relaxing and drinking traditional beer after a long day’s work in the fields. He says that in the old days before the era of guitars and other modern instruments, playing Segaba was the most popular form of entertainment.
Some of his songs like ‘Ntshiela Metsi Mmakeinetse’ and ‘Ka Nna Moraka Ka Nna Tseleng’ tells the story of life in the cattle post and the close ties and care which made sure nobody slept hungry when neighbours have food. Mmapogo says his desire is to teach young people how to play segaba.
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