Dan Tshanda roars in death through tribute
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday November 13, 2026 11:07
The event was originally scheduled to take place at Red Square in Metsimotlhabe, but it has since been moved to the Main Mall Square for December 5. The Dan Tshanda tribute will showcases the Splash Live band and will feature both local and international artists, mostly inclined to the Disco genre. Silvia Tshanda, the wife to the late producer and artist, revealed that the demand for tickets is very high. She explained that Dan Tshanda’s fans from across the region including Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are expected to jet in.
Silvia said the high demand has prompted the organisers to switch venues and settle for the Main Mall Square, which is much bigger in terms of space. Furthermore, she noted that the event is a very special occasion for her and family as they come together with fans and music lovers to commemorate Dan Tshanda’s life and celebrate the remarkable legacy he left behind. “I see it as an opportunity to honour not only the artist the public knew and loved, but also the man whose music continues to bring people together. The idea (to organise the event) comes from a place of love, gratitude and appreciation,” Sylvia explained in to Arts & Culture this week. “Dan dedicated so much of his life to creating music, building an extraordinary catalogue and connecting with people through his work. “I wanted to create an occasion where we could celebrate such efforts, thank him in our own way and give his supporters a chance to experience that music together again. For me, it is about ensuring that the joy and meaning he brought to people’s lives continue to be felt.”
Dan Tshanda built a deeply loyal fan base because his music spoke to real experiences. His songs carried stories of love, everyday struggles, hope and upliftment, and his range even extended to gospel music. “That variety allowed people from different generations and backgrounds to connect with him. His influence was felt strongly in Botswana and South Africa, as well as in Namibia and Zimbabwe. “His music also reached listeners much farther afield, including in the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
I believe that ability to cross borders and still touch people emotionally is what makes his contribution so meaningful,” she added. Silvia’s hope is for the tribute festival to grow into an annual celebration adding that Dan Tshanda’s music and the messages within it deserve to be remembered beyond a single day. “I would love for this to become a tradition that brings fans together, introduces younger generations to his work and keeps his legacy alive year after year. That is the vision I am working towards,” she said.
Sylviah, born in Letlhakeng, met Dan Tshanda in 1998 in Gaborone, got married in 2000, and have three boys Ndivhuwo, Lufuno and Lutendo. They will form part of the tribute with Dan's legendary friends, Mercy Phakela, William Mthethwa and Cheek to Cheek expected to also be in attendance. Other artists set to perform on the day are Dalom Kids, Khoza Mkhozeni, Vee Mampeezy, Matshikos, Peakock and Dr Vom among others. This weekend, the organisers are doing activation for the Dan Tshanda tribute at Happy Lounge (Mogoditshane), Tsabong complex (Tsolamosese) and well as Tshimong Bar (Tlokweng).