The local songs that celebrate the festive season
Spira Tlhankane | Friday December 15, 2017 14:36
Even with the popularity of international music, local music had never failed to find its way into people’s ears and make the Christmas season come alive. Whether you are a fan of house, kwaito, hip-hop, pop, kwasa kwasa or even traditional music everyone has his or her own taste when it comes to festive music. In the recent years, DJ King has done it with Go Siame, Mlesho with Hlomela, but as 2017 comes to the end in few weeks what is Botswana’s favourite local festive song?
Arts & Culture talked to a number of Radio DJs to get a feel of the festive songs. “I feel like at the moment there is no song that can be said to be a festive song, guys did not release much, rappers are more into Naija beats at the moment. If anything I can say Khiring Khiring Khorong Khorong is the festive song at the moment despite it being a bit old,” club and radio disc jockey DJ Izzy said. The Yarona FM DJ stated that across all the musical genres there is no song that has been recently released which has potential to be that Christmas banger.
“As much as local musicians released good songs this year ATI outdid everyone including himself,” stated music and events promoter Bofelo Segotso as he pointed out that Khiring Khiring Khorong Khorong is the only song that has been making people move and still has the potential to do the same thing this festive.
Electro music DJ German Dollar shared a number of urban songs that he believes can be the festive jam everyone will sing and dance to. He said the contenders are Khiring Khiring Khorong Khorong, Team Distant’s Shooting Star, Ban T’s Shine Forever and Mpho Sebina’s newly released Black Butterfly.
Just like many, veteran event promoter and music producer Massie Hule believes that ATI’s song will be or is the Christmas jam that will have every house, car, combi and music festival play in celebration of the festive period. “There is a high possibility that Charma Gal’s new song Jabu Kemo Mejemong will be trending and have everyone celebrate the festive season as the main song,” Hule said.
Duma FM’s Radio presenter Letumile Lets Montsosa also known as Mr Good Manners told Arts & Culture in an interview that Khiring Khiring Khorong Khorong has been on high rotation from radio, TV, internet to parties and clubs. The After Glow host said even though Nigerian music and South African House music are popular, Khiring Khiring Khorong Khorong, Culture Spears’s Dibeisane, Han C’s Seileng and Dramaboi’s Setakile are some of the songs which are popular right now.
Most answers to this question are completely personal therefore Arts & Culture also undertook a Facebook survey to find out which songs people will be rocking to this festive season. In no particular order, it’s quite noteworthy that most of the tracks in the list were released less than three months ago.
Charma Gal – Jabu (Kemo mejemong)
“Jabu kemo mejemong gake batle too much thinking” is probably the most popular line from this song. The song taken from Ke Ya Mmokolodi album was released just in time to hype the festive. In the song, the Sekuta singer highlights the festive festivals such as Clap You Hands, Morobosi and Home Coming Concert as the shows not to miss.
Culture Spears featuring
MmaAusi - Dibeisane
Ironically in the same list as his ex-wife, Kabelo Mogwe may have failed to make an impact with his previous Tonkana album but it looks like Dibeisane is that medicine he has been seeking for. Currently playing on repeat in some local radio stations, Dibeisane has awoken that desire for traditional music and surely people will be pumping to the song this festive.
Stany Stan featuring
The M.X.C – Whayasay
Stany Stan’s song titled Whayasay is one of those songs that appears more in the list. It was released back in August but now it is pumping and had now made it to the songs of the festive season. Perhaps when they came up with the song they had a good reason to think the song could work miracles.
Dramaboi- Setakile
The song written about the highs and lows of month ends is Dramaboi’s latest single and the lyrically talented rapper continues to show that he is up there in the top table. Motswako genre has done well this year and Setakile is among the festive song list as the month of December and the year 2017 comes to an end.
ATI – Khiring Khiring Khorong Khorong
Perhaps the most popular of them all is ATI’s hit song Khiring Khiring Khorong Khorong and even though it has been some time since it was released, the song is still a banger and many will be rocking to it this festive. ATI is one of the most booked artists this festive season and he has recently launched his new album Envelope at Maitisong. The Serowe man has already won BOMU awards as a result of the song and he still going to hit hard this coming holidays.
We are all surrounded by the beautiful sounds of holiday music favourites. While internationally songs like Sun El Musician’s Akanamali, Prince Kaybee’s Beautiful Girls, Heavy K’s Inde, Distruction Boyz’s Omunye, Major Lazer & DJ Maphorisa’s Particula, Master KG’s Tshwarelela Pelo Yaka, Philljoy’s Nywere Nywere and Lady Zamar’s My Baby are trending it is always important to acknowledge that it is the same local artists who will be rocking shows with us during the festive season.
It is not everyone who will be attending festivals and parties but the traditional festive carols and heartfelt hymns will be shaking Crossovers and Christmas church services. While the sound of Boney M’s Mary’s Boy Child brings warmhearted thoughts and pleasant memories of past Christmases, everyone will be celebrating Christmas while enjoying some wonderful music.