Shanti Lo Mesmerises Revellers

MPHO TLALE
Correspondent | Monday August 9, 2010 00:00

 

The revellers, who were mesmerised by Shanti Lo's  performance, indeed  proved that you do not have to understand the language to appreciate music.

The show attracted only a handful of Batswana revellers, but the presence of non-citizens made a huge difference. Interestingly, the language barrier in the lyrics did not stop the foreigners among the audience from enjoying the performance as they clapped and danced during the show.

Looking as fashionable as ever in silver shoes, black leather pants and a to-die-for blue figure belt, Shanti Lo dished out a high-powered energy performance.  The musician took control of the stage as he danced, swaying his hips from side to side to the delight of the revellers. The live band added more flavour to the performance, allowing Shanti Lo to engage with his audience.

Amongst the songs he performed was Kgogomodumo, which Shanti Lo went on to explain to his audience as a dinosaur. He stated that the tale behind the dinosaur in  relation to Setswana folk tales. Shanti Lo further explained that the song Kgogomodumo is a metaphor as he is now using it to describe situations such as HIV/AIDS , the global economic recession and anything that could hinder the development of human kind. Kgogomodumo, like the Indonesian tsunami, put people under pressure as they were under constant fear of when it would strike them, hence the metaphor.

Ditshwanelo is a song that talks about human rights and emphasises the fact that all human rights are universal and sacrosanct.  The song, which has a mellow beat has almost the same  musical key as Thandiswa Mazwai's Lahl'umlenze.

On performing Baloi, which talks about witchcraft, Shanti Lo  acted out what the lyrics to the song  mean and displayed it on stage. Upon leaving the stage it was evident that the audience wanted more of Shanti Lo on stage.  Shanti Lo has  managed to build a good reputation of delivering a performance worth the audience's money and he did not disappoint with his Friday display.

Among his back up singers was Lorato Rantao who was clad in a black fairy type of outfit. Rantao  was a contestant in Botswana Television (Btv) My Star show, but was kicked out of the competition for coming late.