Kunkuru: the poetic family
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Sunday September 11, 2022 06:00
However, in the case of Kunkuru, a family comprised of a couple and their son whose poetry talents cannot go unnoticed, is a rare story.
The Kumakwane family possesses a rare talent that seems might come once in a lifetime and never be replicated, as a wife’s sweet and beautiful ululation, son and father’s talent of playing with their mother tongue has set them on a fame path.
The trio is Kopanang (husband), Lesego Marry (Wife) and Kenneth Warona Tito who is the son. The Kunkuru family became known at the peak of COVID-19 in 2020 following their reciting a poem about Corona.
In an interview with the family, they said it was after that Batswana, especially RB1 listeners gave them the name ‘Kunkuru’. Kopanang, 38, said the poem captured many people's emotions as it was during the time when COVID-19 ravaged the world and claimed too many lives.
“The radio played this poem countless times because It had verses such as: 'Letsatsi la tsholofelo le tlaa tlhaba, Corona o tlaa swaba, Corona o tlaa nyelela semmuwane'. The poem was simply meant to console listeners and giving them hope that COVID-19 will varnish and we shall have better days. Batswana then called the poet Kunkuru rather than by his real name and the name Kunkuru originated from that scenario,” explained Kopanang. In the village, Kopanang is popularly known as Mmadinotshi. He is a poet by nature.
He also recited a poem entitled” Seromamowa sa Botswana weee” which is common to most of RB1 listeners. He said he also won the BTC Poetry award on 2019 and won a poetry record deal that had 12-tracked album.
He told Arts & Culture that he has been a Botswana Poetry champion since 2015, 2016 and 2019 under Presidential Arts competitions and even Constituency Arts competitions champion. Kopanang is also an author.
He wrote a Setswana novel titled, “Botshelo Bodiba” La Motsadi Petlwana” published by Macmillan Botswana Company in 2005. He said he has also written a poetic book entitled “Sepho” published last year by Macmillan.
On the other hand, his wife, a 31-year-old lady from Digawana village describes herself as a "support system to the boys". She said she is an ululator (mmamogolokwane) who performs at family events and sometimes with other ululators (bomme ba mogolokwane) during the welcoming ceremonies of presidents in the country. She also said she was a champion in the constituency competitions when it comes to poetry. She added that she acts as an editor to the novels written by her husband and son.
Their son, 12-year-old boy doing Standard 6 at Kumakwane Primary School, released a six-track album titled Kunkuru weeee. The talented poet is also an author. He has written a poetry book titled “Ke a Boka” which was also published by Macmillan Company. He recently performed in Harare, Zimbabwe under CHIPAWO Festival.
According to Mary, the Kunkuru family was also part of the Motlhaolosa Poetry Ensemble directed by the popular local poet Moroka Moreri. Kunkuru always performs with his father and mother that is why they are called Kunkuru family.
She explained that working together as a family was exciting. She stated that they were always available when the need arises, adding that they did their work diligently knowing that they were building a family name.
She also explained that when they are on the stage, her husband always opens the performance before Kunkuru can perform because the audience is always eager to see the child reciting his poems and people get over excited after his performance. Kunkuru”s mother acts as a breather, she entertains with her melodious voice ululations. “Everything I did on poetry, he is doing it.
Doing radio jingles, writing books, even in doing his performances he was me, his father. Kunkuru started reciting poems whilst young. I remember one day I got a message from his pre-school teacher by the time he was at the reception class, his teacher asking us to bring him any costume to put on because he will be performing, reciting a poem at the pre-school graduation ceremony,” she said.
“I and his mother were surprised by the teacher’s message so we just did give him an attire and we went to school that day but by the time got there he was on the stage performing. We were surprised.
He was performing all my lines especially the lines of the Seromawowa Sa Botswana Weee poem. This means he was always listening to the radio hearing all these words, and even watching my performances in videos from my phone,” Kopanang explained.
However, just like any business, the family faced some challenges more especially during rehearsals. Mary said her husband is strict when it comes to the business. She explained that he sometimes forgets that she was the wife and Kunkuru his son because his mood changes and there was no pampering during preparation since they have to deliver. She explained that they had events both locally and internationally meaning they have to travel making it difficult to do house chores since they would be tired.
However, before shows, the family ensures that everything is up to date; Kunkuru’s school uniform is clean and his homework are done on time. However, she said the reception was good and promising, especially on Kunkuru’s album. She added that they intended to expose him to the outside world where he would be recognised internationally.
She explained that social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp worked wonders for them. She added that they advertised their brand in shopping malls. “The mother is the one handling family finances. Finance is shared accordingly not forgetting family savings and Kunkuru savings so that when he reaches a certain age he will be able to enjoy the fruits of his talent. We have no livelihood jobs; poetry is our source of income. Everything we have is because of poetry. All our children were raised by poetry,” Kopanang said.