It was fun to see everyone gathered at Botswanacraft, anticipating each act as it was about to come on stage. It was sooo fun, that I even forgot that I was going to come on later – I got tense at some point but then saw the stage and just thought ‘ah – I am going to kick ass… I always do’. The other really cool part was being able to see majority, if not all the acts of the day. A true musical concert indeed. I received a lot of positive feedback – others had never seen me on stage before and had always wondered what it is that I really do.
Without all the conflicts, tension, oppression and repressive nature human beings go through the passage of time – music would not be so necessary, so gentle and so remedial. The world is at war and government transitions are taking place all over the place. Syria, Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria and everyone is crying for peace. Everyone is crying out for justice (Peter Tosh – Equal rights). The best way to relay a strong message – of sorrow, of love, of appeal, of aid, of freedom, of anger, of joy, of delight or hope – is through song. We all have our fight music or revolutionary songs and my one for the show was Talking about a revolution by Tracy Chapman. We slowed down the tempo and got a nice lullaby groove for everyone. It was the most cleansing experience of the night. A revolution in any context talks about a fundamental change of the status quo. The world is at war – with recent reports of displaced people and refugees on a hunger-strike – peculiar, considering that they are without water food anyway. Why must the world not find a single moment of peace? Perhaps the arts in this country need a revolution, a concert similar to Fete de la musique, with thousands and thousands of people in attendance as a spiritual movement of healing and cleansing. La Fete de la musique is a famous French annual event which has been celebrated in France since 1982 on June 21. The day was chosen because it coincides with the summer solstice, one of the longest days of the year or shortest night for those who celebrate till dawn.
On that day, musicians from all walks of life invade Frances streets, courtyards, gardens and stations to play music.
The celebration is popular as people do not have to pay to watch the concerts, which take place in more than 100 countries around the world.
On Saturday myself and Basarwa 1st Inhabitants shared the stage with the following acts: Amok (AFRO heavy Metal), Quest (Soft Rock), So Much Soul (Rock, Blues), The Maya Roze Project (Reggae Fusion), JAH MAN (Reggae), Noisemakers on Parade (Pop Rock & Hip Hop), Map Alumni marimba band (trad/contempory marimba music), Northside School (Marimba), Baobab School Orchestra, DJ Usina, Healing Stream Quartet (Acapella/ Gospel), The Unseen DJ, Berry Heart & Seragantswana (trad dance, poetry & modernity), Godfrey Moeng (traditional dance)
Stampore Trio & Seragantswana (Traditional), MEROPA (African Drumming), Kennedy Thal (RnB Pop), Kabo LEBURO (Ethnocentric Jazz), Masilo And Friends (Afro-Jazz), Samantha Mogwe (Neo-soul/RnB.), Endangered Species (Borankana/ Jazz), Mmaphala and XLT Band (Afro Soul), Genius SENYATSO&PINAGARE band (Ethnocentric JAZZ), Koma Jazz featuring Phillip MHLANGA (Afro-Jazz), Punah Gabasiane (Afro-Jazz), Banjo Mosele & Veterans (Afro-Jazz), M.M.P Family (Kwaito), and Kamp 13 (Hard rock).
