Surprise wins in traditional instrumentalist competitions
Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Friday July 25, 2014 14:22
While there is no doubt that there was great talent in all the three categories, fans of Solly Sebotso (katara), Andju Lukase (setinkane) or Sight Mongweotsile (segaba) went home a disappointed lot as the judges had their own ideas for winners. Youthful acoustic guitar player, Batlaadira Radipitse, from Gaborone won this year’s katara champion in a controversial decision that saw multitudes of katara lovers murmuring in disapproval.
The Gaborone lad beat impressive and established musicians such as Sebotso of Pidipidi fame, who had to settle for second position in the katara competition.
Radipitse was one of the only two youngsters in the finals, who was pitted against old heads such as Stika Sola Molefhi, Gaoabiwe Tapson, and Olebetse Motlamme. The defending champion, Motlamme, this time around finished sixth in the field of eight finalists drawn from the best in the country this year. It was the first time since its inception in 2009, that the katara finals were held without the legendary Andries Bok, who died from liver disease last December. In the Segaba category, multi-award winner Sight Mongwe Otsile performed well a melodious rhythm backed by a well-scripted and vocalised song. However, the Kanye man finished second behind Lesetlhe Jukajabe of Kgalagadi.
The only female player in the segaba category, Mhaladi Kealotswe of Malatswai, finished fifth.
Gantsi man, Kediutule Mathule, also introduced an unique type of setinkane. It was so beautifully crafted on a large wooden board that allowed the player to hold the instrument like a keyboard.
Unlike the rest of the players who carried their setinkane in both hands, Mathule’s setinkane was held like a guitar and the player appeared to be using not just thumbs but all his fingers to produce the melody. He finished fourth.
In this category, Etsha 6 man, Moviri Motero finished third
He sang in Setswana and slowed his energetic rhumba inspired tunes, to a mid-tempo rhythm and sang about HIV/AIDS.
Both segaba and setinkane categories proved that they have a pool of diverse talent, as each player came with their unique style.