Brass until dawn

Lucy Kgweetsi | Wednesday December 3, 2025 06:00

The hall was filled with the usual mix of warm chatter, instrument tuning, and quiet expectation. Everyone knew a long night of music lay ahead, but there was something different in the air this time, a sense that each group had come ready to give more than just a performance. They had come to share. From the moment people stepped into Gaborone Technical College Hall, something about the atmosphere hinted that this would not be an ordinary event. The programme was arranged in five rounds, with each group returning again and again, giving the evening a steady rhythm. Instead of one long performance from each act, the music came in waves. Each round added something new, making the night unfold slowly and naturally. Majalefha Brass Band opened the first round. Their music started calmly, with steady brass tones that settled everyone into their seats. They didn’t rush.

Their sound was confident and clear, setting the mood for what would follow. Every time they returned in later rounds, the audience seemed to recognise the familiar strength of their style. Majenyana Brass Band joined next. Their energy lifted the room immediately. Drums tapped out firm beats, and the horns pushed forward with bright, strong notes. Each round they performed felt like they were giving the night an extra push of life, waking up the hall whenever the energy dipped. Then came the turn of Dineo Tsa Tumelo, the choir filled the stage with warm, blended voices that added a different feeling to the evening. Their sound was smooth and emotional, balancing the stronger brass performances. Each time they came back for another round, the hall seemed to breathe a little deeper. A special moment arrived during the third round, when Majalefha Brass Band and Dineo Tsa Tumelo performed together. Brass and voices joined in one piece, rising and falling in a way that surprised the audience. The choir brought softness, the instruments added strength.

The two groups matched each other well, and many people later said this was the moment that stayed with them. Sedi La Dichaba Brass Band took the final spot in most rounds. Their style was steady and respectful, the kind of brass music that reminds people of older gatherings and community events. Their performances helped balance the programme, giving the night a calm centre. Around midnight, light rain began falling on the roof. Instead of breaking the focus, it blended into the music, soft, steady, and familiar. People joked quietly that it wouldn’t be Maruapula without a bit of rain. By the time the fifth round arrived, the night had rolled smoothly into early morning. Majalefha, as hosts, closed the event around 7 am. Their final performance was gentle but sure, the kind of closing that felt right after so many hours of shared music. When everything finally came to an end, Majalefha thanked everyone: the performers, the Postola community, the fans, and the well-wishers. And with that, people stepped out into the fresh morning, carrying the echoes of a long, unforgettable night.