Batswana�s support humbles Kast
Tapela Morapedi | Wednesday March 15, 2017 18:00
“I used to personally bash Batswana and label them as unsupportive of the local artists in favour of foreign artists. Since I started this 1000km walk, I have been humbled by the support of Batswana,” he said.
The rapper made this confession in Selebi Phikwe recently where he had honoured an invitation by the newly elected Selebi Phikwe Youth Committee.
The invitation also gave Kast an opportunity to visit his home village, Mmadinare where he received a hero’s welcome at the kgotla.
He said he viewed Batswana as unsupportive, but the fact on the ground tells a different story as evidenced by the overwhelming support he is receiving from Batswana since he began to trek the land in a journey from Maun to the capital city.
Kast’s observation is that Batswana with the least have shown more support and have given the most than Batswana with much, a gesture that has truly humbled him and made him change his view about Batswana’s commitment to support their own.
With the failure of the Tlatsa Lebala project last year at the eleventh hour, came a barrage of outbursts and outright ridicule from fans and many other detractors of the muso.
Kast’s landmark music festival had been dealt a painful blow when the heavens opened up and let out a downpour that forced the ambitious rapper to postpone the event. He insists that had it not been for the rain, the show would have taken place as scheduled and Batswana would have filled up the stadium.
He re-strategised and the campaign has since taken a new dimension with a 1000km walk as fundraiser for the project. To ensure that his dream becomes a reality, a new approach was needed urgently before Batswana could further condemn his pursuit as a terrible joke.
“The common thread amongst those that dismiss me as a chancer is that they believe I am not musically talented as I purport to be and therefore it is a farfetched dream for me to pull up a crowd that could fill up the stadium,” he said.
The Sejabana hit maker nevertheless does not fold to popular opinion and so he stuck to his guns to walk until the end. He has already covered more than 80% of the distance and his detractors are already warming up to him. Determination is etched bold on his forehead and he does not look like he will take the foot off the accelerator anytime soon.
Some of Kast’s diehard fans walked with him a few kilometres. Some complain that certain people who harbour political aspirations are trying to use Kast’s walk to their advantage by offering support while in actual fact they are using their support as a subtle tool to win goodwill and garner political expediency in the process.
Kast who is a graduate of political science from the University of Botswana said that he is aware of the political play but he chooses not to lose focus lest he gets derailed.
He does not want to be distracted but wants to openly continue putting up some work to fulfill his dream. He welcomes any offering, whether cash or in kind from different people from different walks of life with the hope that all those that give, their blessed hand extends with good intent.
The bearded rapper is quick to point out that he is not worried about the support of other artists.
“I often get asked if I am satisfied with the participation of other artists. It should be known that the mandate was never about getting other artists to participate.
“This was a selfless drive on my part to walk 1000km for Botswana music and to ask for support from all willing Batswana,” he said.
It is significant to note however that some artists support Kast’s initiative, as shown by fellow rapper, Apollo D who accommodated
Kast and his team at his house in Mathangwane and pledged to walk with him from Mathangwane to Mahalapye.
Kast has been bullish in his approach to raise awareness about the Tlatsa Lebala project and he is confident that come what may, the Tlatsa Lebala show will take place on May 6, 2017 at the National Stadium.
With his newly found rapport with Batswana, he is more than energised to last the full course of the 1000km league of his own.