Ditiro, MmaAusi Spice Up BLLAHWU Heritage Day
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday October 15, 2018 12:47
But Ditiro, MmaAusi and Bamalete Ditlhakga Traditional Troupe made sure that attendants got their just deserts with thrilling renditions.
While the event started rather late from the scheduled time of 6pm, possibly due to the first rainfall season downpours, the performances by the artists spiced up the event. The event, which was held under the theme ‘Cultural influence on the struggle’ is a forum where cultural diversity of the trade union movement was displayed.
It started off slowly as people came in a bit late. The organisers decided to tweak the programme a little bit and do official proceedings first, before opening up the stage for the artists.
Bamalete Ditlhakga Traditional Troupe from Ramotswa, which is made up of just about 12 elderly men were the first to treat the attendants to folklore music.
It was their slow dance moves on stage that got the crowd cheering and ululating in appreciation. They showed that despite their old age, they still had versatile moves.
Just as people were enjoying their traditional cuisine, South African-based MmaAusi got up on stage to cheer all round. With her four youthful dancers, MmaAusi managed to grab the attention of the crowd who had been fully focused on the meals they were having.
She performed some of her hits such as Totometsa Tlhogo and Segonyana, which made her a household name locally.
However, it was the Dibeisane, which she did with Culture Spears that got the crowd on their feet and sing along.
The song, which was released late last year proved to be a hit. That Kabelo Mogwe joined her on stage to perform their song together was the cherry on top.
The crowd seemed to enjoy itself, as many got closer to the stage to capture the moment with their phones.
DT as Ditiro is affectionately known, was next on stage. The pint-sized musician did not disappoint as he continued where MmaAusi left off.
The former Matsieng lead singer kept teasing the crowd with some of his hits, which made him endeared to Batswana while still with the group.
Every time he did that, he sang without a backtrack and many people went crazy singing along, a sign that they wanted him to perform the songs. DT showed that he is still one of the best traditional music artists to come out of the country.
He performed most songs from the album Maganamokgwa that he released immediately after he came out of prison.
According to the union secretary general, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa, the heritage day provides an opportunity for them to exhibit the diversity of culture in the country, including the culture of the trade union movement in an endeavour to display the inherent infusion of culture and the struggle for social justice and human rights.
Motshegwa said that trade unions have a role to play in preserving culture, particularly the African one.
“Africans must take responsibility to preserve their own identity through nurturing of their culture. As a labour movement, we are not only pursuing the struggle of the working class, we are also pursuing the Pan African struggle to ensure the development of Africa,” he said.