Rich Melodies At Clap N� Tap Festival
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday December 1, 2014 11:07
All that the patrons had to do was clap their hands and tap their feet dancing to the rhythms as the choirs blew them away with spiritual hymns. The event was hosted by Clap N’ Tap Choirs of Botswana (CCB). Four energetic and talented choirs entertained the audience.
The CCB team had two community choirs, Baineetseng Ho Jehova Gospel and Babiditsweng ke Lentswe Gospel.
There were two church choirs, Mogoditshane Basha Spiritual and Metsimotlabe St John LLB.
Babiditsweng ke Lentswe in a black and white uniform stole the show with its beautiful rhythms. It left the audience mesmerised with its beautiful dance moves and songs. Some of the tunes it sung were Remember Me and Shall Never Lose Its Power.
Clad beautiful royal blue uniform, the Metsimotlhabe St John Choir did not disappoint either. The other choirs also gave a good account of themselves to make the show memorable for the crowd.
The choirs had clearly reached their objective in spreading the word of God through music, encouraging participation in the Christian movement among young people and a spirit of fellowship and unity with other choirs. Almost all of the singers were youth who seemed to be enjoying themselves as they preached the gospel to their peers who also came in large numbers.
The choirs had organised a similar event at Baobab English Medium Primary School in 2012 and had a positive feedback and this year, they came back much bigger and better. Each choir was dressed in stunning and unique uniforms.
Chairperson of CCB, Tiesetso Masasa said that in the 2012 festival, they raised P20,000 which they decided to donate to sick children admitted at the Princess Marina Hospital last year.
He pleaded with private companies to help them improve and grow Clap N’ Tap music in Botswana. The guest speaker, Solomon Keikeletseng applauded the choirs for their beautiful performances. He told them that they could go places if they came up with ways that could promote their genre. He advised them to record and sell their music as it heals and soothes a person’s spirit. “I never knew that this kind of music was this enjoyable. I hope this genre will grow with time. Let us professionalise and commercialise this genre. Sell your songs to the radio and television (Btv). Also make videos and put them on Youtube. You will see, many people will buy your music,” he said. Keikeletseng and his friends donated P15,000 to CCB.
The master of the ceremony and Melodi ya Kgalaletso Btv show presenter, Nkisang Rakgomo, promised to help give the choirs exposure as his viewers were hungry for new things.