Splendid performances at JAAM Festival despite low turnout
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Wednesday August 13, 2025 06:00
Amongst the local artists whose performances will forever remain in people's hearts was Oliver The Poet from Molepolole.
He started his act by whistling then later sung a beautiful intriguing song before reciting a powerful Setswana poem.
To engage the audience, he later came up with a song about the audience and what they were doing, sending them into laughter.
Oliver The Poet sung about people sitting, walking and dancing. The young man's guitar and singing skills were worth watching too.
After his brilliant performance, another group on the lineup Stream Jazz did not want to drop the ball either as they mesmerised the audiences with a sterling performance.
They sang songs such as Tsa Lefatshe, Morobadi Tsoga Tsoga amongst others.
When they went on stage, Kabo Leburu and Black Charm treated revellers to a beautiful collaboration. Their beautiful melodies kept the audiences on their toes.
Royal Jazz Band and later on Solly Sebotso also kept the audiences captivated with their beautiful performances.
Closing the Saturday night's performances, South Africa's Johnny Mokhali and wife took the audiences down the memory lane with hits that included Lerato ka Mogala, Sophie Io Manoni Waka, Ke Ngwanake Yona and others.
Mokhali informed the audience that he will be turning 65 on October 18, 2025.
The event organisors infused the music festival with a fashion show where a few local talented fashion designers showcased their beautiful designs.
Event founder, Betty Knight, explained to Showtime that JAAM is a non-profit music initiative with a clear and deliberate mission: to push back against the long-standing undervaluing of African creative work, both within and without their own countries and on the global stage.
'In Botswana, as in many parts of Africa, the arts and music sectors rarely receive the same level of investment, recognition, or celebration as other industries. While athletes such as Letsile Tebogo rightly enjoy national acclaim, musicians and artists often face limited opportunities, with many feeling compelled to seek recognition overseas,' she said.
'JAAM seeks to change that by creating a platform for visibility, hope, and real support, especially for young and emerging talents like 10-year-old guitar protégé, Frank Botoka from Mahalapye.
'Frank is exceptionally gifted, but without support, his potential could easily go unrealised. JAAM exists to ensure that talents like his are nurtured, protected from exploitation, and provided with both financial and musical support.'
Knight added by oganising such a festival without sponsors was a challenge.
While the absence of a sponsorship will never stop them from hosting JAAM annually, she said financial support was essential if they were to fairly remunerate musicians and cover the costs of planning and organising.
She pointed out that the Inspiration Behind JAAM was her PhD research and her experience with racism in the United Kingdom.
The organiser explained that the money she personally spent on paying musicians, planning the event, and even physically building the stage, came from a racial harassment claim she won against her former employer.
'What was once the result of a traumatic, life-changing experience has been transformed into something positive way to effect social change and uplift others. The stage alone cost more than £1,000 (nearly P20,000).
'Total festival costs, including paying artists, exceeded P80,000. Botoka performed with a brand-new electro-acoustic guitar we bought for him in England. This allows him to plug into a festival PA system or play using battery power at home or for small audiences. At its heart, JAAM is about empowerment - particularly for disadvantaged backgrounds like Botoka's,' she added.
Two weeks before the festival, Knight said they visited Botoka in Mahalapye, met his teachers, and then his father in Tshikinyega ward, where they live in abject poverty.
During the visit, she said they presented Botoka with school uniform and shoes, casual clothes, trainers, sliders and some groceries for him and his father.
She added that they paid for his performance adding the money will be used to open a child savings account to support his education, well-being, and musical growth.
Knight said that was what sets JAAM apart from other festivals, as it was as much about human impact as it is about music.
On the low turnout this year, she said it could be attributed to several factors such as being the first installment, cold weather while the outdoor venue may have discouraged attendance.