Nation robbed of great leader
Maureen Odubeng | Friday August 8, 2014 10:56
Motswaledi was indeed a man of many talents. Whatever he set his mind on he did it to his level best and as a result, the fallen hero has touched the lives of many from different walks of lives.
Hiss political career was quite promising and while his party, the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) was fairly new, it was already making great strides in claiming its place in the political arena.
The same Motswaledi was a greater music director, composer, conductor, as well as singer, and it does not end there. The man who many describe as one of the greatest was also a good mentor and because of this his legacy will live on.
His musical background speaks volumes, as many musicians who are considered some of the best in the country have passed through the capable hands of Sir G. This extends to composers, conductors and directors.
Having founded the (Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete) KTM Choir in 1993, Motswaledi went on to identify musical talent and nurture it. He was the then Director of the choir, composing and arranging music.
The choir is named after the late musician, composer, educationist, theologian and politician, Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete, whose compositions include the National Anthem Fatshe Leno La Rona.
Many musicians sing praises of Sir G and describe him as someone who was immensely gifted in music.
One of the people who passed through Motswaledi’s hands is composer, Omphemetse Chimbombi, of the United Congregation of Southern Africa (UCCSA) Broadhurst Choir. Chimbombi had many good things to say about Motswaledi, both in music and political circles. Chimbombi said she met Sir G, in 1993 when she sang with the University of Botswana Choir, explaining that Motswaledi was very good at finding talent.
“You didn’t have to tell Motswaledi what you are good at, as he would just assess you from your singing, and identify other potential in you,” she said.
Chimbombi said Motswaledi immediately realised that she was not only gifted in singing, but also had potential in composing and conducting. She said in January of 1994, she joined KTM Choir, at which Motswaledi continued to coach and encourage her to make the most of her musical talents.
She said Motswaledi later made her KTM soprano voical lead, and appointed her to conduct the female voices when they sang alone.
She said she took over after the passing of the then conductor, Setty Monnaapula. Chimbombi, while with KTM Choir, was also singing for the UCCSA Broadhurst Choir. Chimbombi was with KTM for eight years, before quitting the choir, and is now Technical Advisor of the UCCSA Broadhurst Choir. She is in charge of training choir conductors , which she too previously conducted.
She has accomplished a lot in music, and she passionately credited Motswaledi’s mentorship for developing her into one of the respected composers in the country.
Chimbombi has published two music books, and has composed a number of songs. Her first, an educational book titled Basic Tonic Solfa Concepts, was published in 2007. In March of this year, Chimbombi published her second book, Crucifixion Path.
“I had asked Motswaledi to launch my second book, but he wasn’t able to do it due to his busy schedule. I felt he was the right person to launch my book since he was the very person who encouraged and inspired me to work hard and make use of my talent,” he said.
She explained that Motswaledi identified traits in people very quickly, saying that she is where she is in music because of the support she got from him.
“I will always remember him for immensely contributing in my artistic growth. At times he would give me tasks that I thought I was too young to do and when I resisted, he would say...kgarebe, thwaahala. I was only 21-years-old when he appointed me to be the Soprano Voice Leader in the K.T.M Choir,” she said, adding that there were more mature and experienced sopranos than she was who she thought could perform the task better than she could.
“He instilled in us the culture of discipline in the art of music. He was my brother and will always be remembered for his jokes. May his soul rest in everlasting peace,” she said.
Chimbombi is not the only one who received musical tutelage from Motswaledi, as there are many others who cherish him, having been blessed enough to have been a part of his life.
Another local composer, Puso Phetwe, current winner of Best Composition at the President’s Day competitions, also relishes the training he received from Sir G.
He said he started working with Motswaledi in 1992 when he was still a student at Kagiso Senior Secondary School, at a time he was conducting the choir for school competitions.
He also said Motswaledi quickly identified his musical capabilities, explaining that from that point onwards their relationship blossomed. He said he was one of the people who started with KTM when it was formed in 1993.
“I was the youngest member of the choir at the time,” he said.
He said Motswaledi immediately realised that he could read music with ease, and encouraged him to start writing songs.
“He believed in my talent so much that sometimes when writing music, he would incorporate solos for me, to expose my talent,” he said.
He said Motswaledi, after realising that he was a gifted singer, composer, and director encouraged him to get involved with other choirs to develop his talents in music.
“I was a shy person at the time, and Motswaledi used to hold my hand, and take me to places and place me in the public eye.
While I knew that I was shy, he always believed that I wasn’t a shy person,” he said.
He said through Motswaledi’s encouragement, he ended up shedding his shy facade, and developed the confidence to face crowds.
“His encouraging helped me come out of my shell, and as a result I have even gone on to facilitate workshops outside the country,” he said.
He said that while his mentor is no more, his legacy will live on as they are continuing his good deeds by making sure that they nurture and mentor young and upcoming singers, composers and directors.
He said Motswaledi’s work in music speaks for itself as his ‘students’ in music have flourished and they are passing on the knowledge.
“Because of Motswaledi I also have products of my own in music,” he said.
He said Motswaledi planted a seed and that the fruits are being harvested through the many people who have received some kind of training from him.
Some of Phetwe’s compositions include Emang Badiragatsi, which is this year’s presidential winner, O Gorogile Ngwaga, which won the same award last year and Rara Modimo Wa Masomosomo.
The other person who gives Motswaledi credit for unearthing his talent is the current Director of KTM Choir, Luka Disho, also regarded as one of the best composers in the country.
Disho’s relationship with Sir G also dates back to 1994, while he was a student at Lobatse Senior Secondary School.
He fondly related that the then school conductor would take a number of them from the choir along for KTM practices for inspiration. He said he joined the choir in 1997, when he was a first year UB student.
He explained that he was inspired by Motswaledi’s compositions and looked up to him to coach him in developing his talents.
“He was my mentor and music director, so I started scribbling compositions and giving them to him to look at,” he said.
He explained that most of Motswaledi’s compositions were inspired by his love for this country, adding that his songs were always relevant and topical.
He added that while he had singing capabilities, Motswaledi “always saw the composer in me”.
As such, Motswaledi encouraged him to continue writing music.
He said Motswaledi was supportive of everyone in the choir and was dedicated to making sure that the members realise their full potential. He added that he was a man dedicated to nurturing both singers and composers, explaining that he wanted to see choral music grow to greater heights.
He said because of Motswaledi’s hard work, KTM currently boasts of many accomplishments. He explained that it is currently the only choir with conductors who compose. He said that Sir G, imparted onto him and others good musical skill, which continues to bare fruit as the choir continues to grow in leaps and bounds.
He added that he has put all he has learnt from Motswaledi to good use and as a result, the choir under his directorship continues to prosper. Disho has been the director of the choir since 2001.
In 1993 KTM Choir represented Botswana at the International Choral Music Festivals in Missoula, Montana (USA) and the Dekalb Festival in Atlanta Georgia (USA).
The choir has also won a few President’s Day competitions.
Some of Motswaledi’s compositions include A Rialo Motsete, Oseregogele, Robala (dedicated to the late Setty Monnaapula), K.T.M, Diphalana, Mmutle, Stoki Stoki, Kulenyane, Vula E No Dhidhima, Productivity, Ponatshegelo and Papadi.