Ntsoro steers Mokaragana to dizzy heights

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Wednesday July 9, 2008 00:00

 

There is no dull moment when he is in control. Mokaragana is also about Keitumele as he has stamped his authority on the show. Mokaragana has always been a popular programme, but with Keitumele on board, you could not ask for more. 

The guy can even turn a drab performance by musicians into lively. Every Saturday evening music lovers are glued to their television sets to watch the show. In places like Gantsi, bars are packed whenever Mokaragana appears on the screen. When the programme is showing, even its followers who had one too many, sober up momentarily just to watch the show. They continue with their binge after the show.

You could not see anyone playing pool or the jukebox when the show is still on. The atmosphere becomes like when there is an important football match as all the attention is focused on the screen. If there were television ratings in the country, Mokaragana would probably top the charts because it is certainly Btv's most popular programme. It draws viewers from all corners of the country and musicians always want to participate in the show. 

Keitumele is such an eccentric character on screen. He seems to have been made for acting. The word 'shy' does not exist in his vocabulary. He is such a crazy character that you might even think he takes substances. However, he does not take any drugs and his outgoing character is only part of his nature. 

He can laugh, perform and do everything with the musicians on stage. Last time when there was a rock band on the stage, he was acting like one of the heavy metal artists and rolling on the floor with his imaginary guitar.

That is Ntsoro for you. The guy is always stylishly dressed when he presents the show.

Even the sponsors of the show, Orange, are getting value for their money with Keitumele on board. 

He is also getting along with his 'rent a crowd' group, lebandla, who come to witness the shooting of the programme every Thursday. Although the progamme is screened on Saturday, it is shot on Thursday. 

Members of lebandla are always invited on the stage to showcase their skills. Some of them always earn Keitumele's rebuke but it is done in good humour. At the end of the show, everybody goes home happy. 

There is also a prize for the best dancer from lebandla or at times Keitumele poses questions about the programme. If Keitumele were a bore, members of lebandla would have long told him off.

They could also have started boycotting the programme. Keitumele spices the programme up with his tales about Ntsoro and never closes his show without leaving the viewers with a sizzler. Initially, when he took over the programme, there was doubt whether he would be able to fill the former presenter, Miso 'Mega V' Mmereki's big shoes. Mega V was also vivacious on the show as well as being an outgoing character. 

Critics felt Keitumele could not make it because he was from the more conservative gospel background. Before he took over Mokaragana, he was a co-presenter of the Sunday gospel programme. But he fitted into the Mokaragana programme like a duck into water. He has surpassed all expectations, proving that he is a versatile character. Being an extrovert, Keitumele seems to be exactly what the doctor ordered for the programme. 

Keitumele is serving music on many fronts. He is also a gospel artists, a producer and promoter. A number of local artistes are under his label too. Earlier this year, Keitumele was elected publicity secretary of the Botswana Musicians' Union (BOMU).

Although there has been negative publicity about him over certain issues, this has never deterred him. He is always in high spirits when presenting his show.