Sereetsi & the Natives to star in Swedish festival
Staff Writer | Thursday October 20, 2016 18:00
The Gothenburg based festival has scheduled the Botswana act for a record breaking four performances.
“I take the appearance at this festival seriously as it is my first on European soil. I look at it as the introduction of the native sound on European shores and an opportunity to break into that market,” Sereetsi said.
Sereetsi will be backed by some of the best Swedish musicians.
“I am honoured to be working with these crop of highly experienced musicians who have backed some of the best world stars,” he said.
While in Sweden, Sereetsi will also teach and conduct workshops for music students at Gothenburg’s Harryda School of Arts and Culture.
“I will be at the school starting October 24 to November 6, 2016. It’s a great opportunity for cultural exchange and for putting Botswana’s best attributes on the map,” says Sereetsi, who is also the author of a Tswana guitar instructional book/CD entitled The Solo Four string Guitar of Botswana.
Sereetsi will then proceed to Stockholm on November 6 for a performance and workshops before heading home on November 13.
Sereetsi & the Natives, is a refreshing definitive reference in contemporary folk music in Botswana and a unique voice in the World music arena.
The act’s strong songwriting and performance in its debut album, Four String Confessions (May 2015), presents a fearless sound that blends traditional Botswana rhythms with Western influences, all built around the signature sound and tradition of the four string folk guitar.
The album has yielded a number of radio staples in Robete, Thaa Kokome, Ngwana’Ngu Wa Enda and Ke Boletsa Mongwe. Sereetsi & the Natives employs master storytelling and poetic lyricism to offer social commentary on topical issues in contemporary Botswana and much of the developing world, sometimes as controversial as homosexuality, or as universal as love and conflict.
The act has already shared the stage with established World music names such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Vusi Mahlasela, Caiphus Semenya, Jaziel Brothers, Letta Mbulu and McCoy Mrubata. The act headlined the Gaborone International Music and Culture Week in August 2016 with US smooth jazz star, Jonathan Butler.
Sereetsi & the Natives has also collaborated on a recording and stage performance with US jazz band, Anthony Stanco and the Crucial Elements. Its growing international performance credits include Chicago, USA, the upcoming Planetta World Music Festival in Gothenburg, Sweden (due November 2 to 6, 2016) and a historic 10-days tour of South Africa (2016).
Sereetsi & the Natives is the first Botswana band to tour South Africa. The 10-days tour took the act to Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Mafikeng.
The act has also featured at the inaugural Mahika Mahikeng Jazz Festival (2015), Kgalagadi Jazz Festival (2016) and the Cultural Calabash Fest (2015) all of them in South Africa.
This is in addition to a busy festival and corporate gig schedule in Botswana. Among festivals Sereetsi & the Natives has played in Botswana are the Maun International Arts Festival, The Hamptons International Jazz Festival, Mascom Live Sessions and the President’s Concert.
Sereetsi is also considered a pioneer on the cultural landscape in Botswana. His 83-page guitar instructional book/CD on the local folk guitar tradition entitled The Solo Four String Guitar of Botswana is a groundbreaking first. He continues to present workshops on the folk guitar tradition in Botswana and internationally.