Solly and western steal the folklore night
Chippa Legodimo | Monday November 10, 2014 15:57
Their solo performances proved that the four-string guitar remains one of the most popular indigenous instruments. It’s even appreciated by the younger generation.
The crowd cheered and clapped as they marveled at the brilliance demonstrated by the earlier performances. When Western took to the stage, the excitement intensified.
To add the cherry on top, the slender guitarist gave the cheering crowd an unfamiliar piece, a reggae track in memory of the late Lucky Dube.This proved to be a hit with the crowd, effectively canceling out the excitement that met his opening track Ke Mmina Tshwene. The crowd followed in his lead as he sang, ‘Iyee, Iyee rest in peace Lucky Dube’.
A few individuals could took to the dance floor as Western romanced them into mimicking him with his melodious voice.
This inspiring performance spurred Sebotso into concocting something special when his turn arrived.
Sebotso clearly muscled himself to the front line in spectacular fashion as he ran his fingers gently across his guitar strings.
The two guitarists might have stared in the night but other instrumentalist like Ntsoane Ramontsho, Patrick Ramadisa and Nkokwana player Sialala Mooketsi had created an awe that would set just the right tone for the night activities.
Mooketsi came with an unfamiliar instrument, called Nkokwana. When he sat on a chair on the stage, there were curious stares as the audience wondered what he had up his sleeve. But within a few minutes he had provided answers with a rousing, illustration of both talent and versatility as he used his chin to play on the long string. This produced a throbbing bass melody that complimented his lyrics.
Segaba player, Ramontsho, demonstrated why he was invited to showcase his talent in Sweden. Creating a good rhythm between his lyric and the melody emerging from his instrument, the artist created spontaneous connection with the crowd.
The crowd especially enjoyed his Tinto composition. “Tinto o tshaba support/ Bangwe bare o tshaba mogare/ Tinto kgarebe leo lame/ Serurubele,” the dreadlocked musician sang as the crowd cheered and laughed.
Poet Oletlanye Tshipa opened the event with a joke that gradually changed into a rhythmic motivational poem rich in metaphors. Comedian Glody ‘Dr Smile’ Kingunza tore the crowd into stitches of laughter with a combination of passionate jokes and Rhumba dance moves.
“Yah my name is Glody. I speak French, Spanish, English and nonsense. I come from DRC and you know we had a problem of Ebola recently and I have been wondering. If Bill Gates could develop an anti virus for computers why can’t he do the same for this virus? Thieves in DRC are very smart. If you put a security camera in your store they take both the stock and the camera, here they don’t do that,” The Democratic Republic of Congo native said to applause.
“You know Botswana is as peaceful as a grave. No gunshots and stuff. In my country, you find in the same street, a bar that looks like a church and church and a bar and then a church that looks like a bar,” he added. Music then played in the background and the comedian suddenly burst into a Rhumba dance routine, much to the crowd’s excitement. It was evident that he is a native of a country said to have invented the Rhumba genre music and dance.