Versatile US rapper, actor to rock Maitisong this weekend

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Wednesday February 24, 2010 00:00

US Embassy spokesperson Laona Segaetsho says they expect Will Power to arrive in Gaborone on Friday, and that the rapper will share his skills with Batswana for several days before returning to America on March 12.

The Embassy is making the launch of the first HIV AIDS campaign rap music a spectacular affair with spoken word poetry, choreography, as well as performances by 12 rappers who featured in the rap recording.

They include local rap stars, Scar, Kast,  Zeus, and hot newcomer Cybil Nite who  recently was crowned Africa's illest MC by Mnet.The first ever rap CD for HIV campaign will have 5,000 copies distributed countrywide.

Championed by local youth HIV non-governmental organisation (NGO), Yohoo, the HIV CD project will tour several places in Botswana, starting with Bontleng on Sunday, before travelling to Selebi-Phikwe (March 6), Serowe (March 4), Francistown, (March 7), Kasane and Pandamatenga (March11-12).

Segaetsho says the programme will also include visits and workshops with poets, performers, churches, and schools.

But all attention should be on the American rapper, who has had glowing reviews in The New York Times and American Theatre Magazine, as well as interviews in global hip-hop magazines VIBE, and The Source. His website says Will Power 'deftly walks the line between serious, studied actor and urban hip-hop MC'.

Will Power is viewed in his country as a pioneer in Hip Hop Theatre. He has become popular for his own style of theatrical communication, fusing original music, rhymed language and dynamic choreography to produce compelling evenings of work. One of Will Power's popular works has been his adaptation of the Greek tragedy Seven Against Thebes, re-titled The Seven, which completed a successful Off-Broadway run at the New York Theatre Workshop, and made its west coast premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse.

The Seven was hailed as both an audience favourite and a critical success, and called everything from 'brilliant' (The Village Voice), to 'exhilarating' (USA Today), to 'a spectacular offering to the theater Gods' (Time Out New York). Will Power's nationally and internationally acclaimed solo show FLOW has been described as 'astounding' (Curtain Up) and 'theater with the refreshing aroma of originality' (New York Times). 

He has  also composed songs featured on MTV, Moesha on UPN, and Kingpin on NBC. As lead vocalist for the Omar Sosa Sextet, Will Power was featured on four critically acclaimed albums: Free Roots, Spirit of the Roots, Bembon, and Prietos.