Sereetsi Talks African-American Music�s Influence In Africa

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday February 26, 2018 15:54

 

Speaking during a Digital Video Conference discussion organised by the Embassy of United States of America in Botswana and the University of Botswana to commemorate the Black History month, Sereetsi said whilst the influence has been reciprocal, the African-American influence has been weightier.

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognising the central role of blacks in US history, which takes place each February.

It is a tribute to African-American men and women who have made significant contributions to America and the rest of the world in the fields of science, politics, law, sports, the arts, entertainment, and many other fields.

Regarding the influence of African-American culture and music has on the African Continent culture and music, Sereetsi said Motswako genre is a replica of the Hip-Hop music.

“Back then in the early 90s when we came in contact with Hip-Hop music during the times of Wu-Tang Clan, the coolest kids in the township wanted to be like those black American guys. We wanted to rap like them, speak like them and dress like them. At the time, Hip-Hop was a poor man’s game in the States but here it belonged in the suburbs. Eventually they were groups just like in the States who would often meet and battle. Every kid wanted to be a rapper, 100 started working on their rhymes, something that transformed the genre to become mainstream music in the country,” he said.

Sereetsi said it is good that although the Africans have copied the lifestyle of the Black Americans and their music, they have done well to localise the Hip-Hop music by using indigenous languages.

 “These days they are rapping in the local language. They have localised the Hip-Hop music and brought out what is now known as Motswako. It is mainstream, and the use of the local languages has made it relevant even though that kind of music originated somewhere,” he added.

Moreover, he said the African-American culture has influenced poetry in the country especially spoken word poetry.