At 72 Basetse Mamo is still a vibrant dancer

NDINGILILO GAOSWEDIWE
Correspondent | Wednesday May 6, 2009 00:00

 

She is 72-years-old but she has a body figure that every woman is dying for at her age or even before reaching that age.Her hairstyle is designed like that of a creche kid, the hair is extended with twisted braid like a mushroom and decorated with white beads.

She wears a white shirt, a black skirt with black, red and white beads in rows attached with safety pins. When she does her job the shoe is taboo.

Born and bred at Mapoka village, Basetse Mamo can spice up a variety of Kalanga dances with her flexible body movements. She dances with energy and passion.Some of her group members included the only man, the drummer, two girl dancers and a handful of women who sang and clapped hands.

Mamo can sing while dancing. Despite her missing front teeth, her smile cheered up the audience.

As she moved forwards and backwards dancing her matlhowa seemed to give her more energy.

She sang her favourite song in Ndebele, the song starting at a lower pace and rising to a crescendo.

At some stage she took her short wooden shotgun, holding and aiming it at the top table as she danced. As she kept pouncing on the green carpet she kept on imitating a soldier or hunter loading a gun.

Some women from the audience joined the group as they clapped their hands and sang in breathtaking harmony.She entertains her audiences and helps preserve Kalanga culture but for more reasons.It was in 1960 that Mamo started dancing the wosana style as she used to go to Nwali (Bakalanga rain-making god).'I left school for dancing when I was doing Grade Four as I used to go to the hill where the rain-making god is believed to be residing,' she said.

Mamo was taught the wosana dance and songs by Ntogwa, who is believed to be the founder of the dance.The wosana dance is strictly meant to praise the Kalanga gods so that the tribe can get more blessings.She is not a great dancer of wosana only, but she is also great when it comes to ndazula and mokomoto. The two types of dance are commonly used during parties and weddings.

She later formed traditional groups in Masukwane and Ramokgwebana through the influence of a colleague who later died.Mamo then relocated to Jackalas II where she currently resides. She did not let her talent fade away as she formed Midumbi traditional dance group with about 25 members.

Midumbi is a Kalanga name meaning calm continuous showers of rain. The group is now four years old.She said some members have joined other groups though she pays them when hired to perform at different events.

Mamo has mellowed so much she has even performed in countries like Zimbabwe, and China.'In China I was the mentor of the group and we scooped the first position,' she said.

The Jack II dweller is now aiming at building a place where different Kalanga groups will be meeting for celebrations of various ceremonies.She also wishes to give back to the community by participating in various projects.