Prisons Band brightens dull Independence Day
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday October 4, 2022 06:00
The music outfit, dubbed the band that never disappoints, put up a spectacular show filled with nothing but immense entertainment despite the poor attendance at the event.
Following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, it was expected that Batswana would throng the National Stadium to commemorate and learn how their country gained its Independence from the British on September 30, 1966, under the leadership of the late Sir Seretse Khama.
The 56th Independence Day celebrations failed to pull the expected crowd as those who came in numbers were primary school pupils from Greater Gaborone schools who were part of the demonstration as they had filled the Eastern Panda Stands to its rafters.
One cannot be faulted for concluding that the Independence Day has almost become a solitary affair, or at best a family affair because there is very little of the national celebratory spirit, especially in Gaborone.
However, the not impressive crowd could not hold back the Botswana Prisons Band’s joyful mood as they continued to fascinate spectators by performing amongst others a song by popular South African artist, Makhadzi, titled ‘Fhumulani’. On their second performance as they went on to display President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s popular dance move, Warder Nonhlahla Ntaleng, Wardress Onkutlule Inka and Naledi Tsiripane respectively left the crowd yearning for more when dancing to another song by South African artist, Mr Romeo’s ‘Control My Feelings’.
The band also performed Makhadzi’s ‘Mmapula’ song as they left the stadium with spectators yearning for more. As usual, the ever lively Botswana Defence Force Band r BDF Band also kept the morning session alive with strings of performances and was later joined by the Botswana Police Service band.
The day was also filled with activities like parachute display, artistic and cultural performances, and callisthenics presentations amongst others.
Masisi, First Lady Neo Masisi, Vice President Slumber Tsogwane, and Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare were some of the dignitaries who graced the event.