Million viewers agree with Vee's Dumalana

Spira Tlhankane | Friday June 28, 2019 13:22

 

All it took was a video shot on the street with his day one fans to achieve this.

Published on February 16, 2019, Vee Mampeezy’s Dumalana video has now become the fastest local video to reach a million views on YouTube (in five months). Dumalana music video was shot and edited by Jack Bohloko and the song features Dr Tawanda who also co-produced it with DJ Bino. 

By Wednesday this week, Dumalana had reached dizzying heights of 1,009,407  alongside other local videos. 

Still by Wednesday, Culture Spears’

Jeremane sat prettily at 1,038,388 views while Shumba Ratshega’s Makhirikhiri had 1,698,835 views.  Compared to Dumalana, Jeremane and Makhirikhiri accumulated the million views over a period of four years having been published in 2015.

 Vee Mampeezy released his Champion video that cost a quarter of a million pula in 2017 under Universal Music (Pty) Ltd South Africa, but it never even made it to a 100, 000 views.  Back then the Letlhale hitmaker hoped that it would set a new record in terms of digital streaming. The Champion video was shot by Uprooted Media, which has shot videos for some of SA’s top musicians.

With Vee Mampeezy’s Dumalana, the secret ingredient this time around was none other than videographer, Bohloko who has proven himself beyond reasonable doubt.

Vee Mampeezy has worked with SA’s top directors like Nicky Campos but none has ever elevated him to reach this milestone. 

Now, as his video gets more airplay on Trace Urban, Trace Africa and Channel O, the smile keeps widening with the gravel voiced Taku Taku hitmaker. Bohloko is also obviously in a happy space at the unfolding events.

Bohloko admitted to Arts & Culture this week that there was something special and different about the Dumalana music video.

“We had brainstormed many ideas, including the President (Mokgweetsi Masisi) in the video. It was a long time since Vee Mampeezy hit the streets, so we decided to go all out and shoot it at the bus rank in Gaborone, Main Mall and around schools,” he said.

Bohloko has already shot Vee Mampeezy’s Dololo, but Dumalana remains his best achievement ever in terms of streaming on YouTube.  “This is the first urban artist to reach a million views and as a videographer I have never been more proud,” he said.

The self-taught videographer added that he was there when the song was recorded and the following day Vee Mampeezy suggested that they shoot the video.  Bohloko said he felt that more artists would now come for his service looking at the wonders he can pull off.  “So many artists like ATI shared my post about the million views and it shows the support we are all getting,” he said.  The renowned videographer who has shot high quality music videos for big artists like Charma Gal, LaTimmy, Dramaboi and Amantle Brown said he felt that one of the reasons the video reached this number of views is because many people wanted to see themselves in it.

Bohloko is not new to success, having won the best award in video production for the third year running at last’s year President’s Day competitions.  

The award was for Amantle Brown’s Follo video, which also scooped best video.

Vee Mampeezy was already anticipating the million views as he posted on Facebook announcing his impending history- making feat.

“Botswana, we are about to make history.  My video is about to reach 1 million views in a short period of time ...as we wait to celebrate!” read the post. Later, after the video reached the million views he announced that he is currently shooting one of the biggest songs to ever come out of the country.