Satjilombe speaks out

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Tuesday January 12, 2010 00:00

 

He said when he it comes to payments, local artistes are often paid a pittance as compared to their foreign counterparts performing in the same show. 

'People should pay local artistes what they deserve.  In many countries, they look after their artistes; we expect the same treatment here. Gone are the days when a local artiste was paid P3,000 and the foreigner P60,000,' said the man who has been dubbed Satjilombe because of his great Ikalanga music.

'Musicians should be regarded as custodians of culture.  They should not be under rated,' he said.

Even the government did not escape Johwa's wrath.  He said the government should pay local artistes for their performances.  He spoke about instances when they were made to perform at government functions for free 'under the pretext that there was no money'. 

He said organisations like the Botswana Export Development and Investment Authority (BEDIA) should take local artistes on board to market the country.  He argued that diplomats could not sell the country alone.  'They need artists and sports people to market our country,' he said.

Johwa has his popular saying that: 'we can't sell technology to Europe but we can only sell our culture to them.'  He said artists had the capacity to show other countries what Botswana was able to offer in terms of culture.  

A cultural activist, Johwa says the country's traditional music styles, which are performed in villages, need to be preserved.  He called on the government to promote cultural diversity. Johwa said the authorities should learn from President Ian Khama who had initiated annual music competitions, which are held on President's Day.  He said the cash prizes are in reasonable amounts.  In fact they are more than what the artistes get for their live shows. To him, Khama is the only person who appreciates the true value of artistes.  'Khama seems to be the only politician who sees our value, he is the only person who feels that we need to be empowered. We still have people who want to pay us P5,000 for a show when the President pays us P25,000 just for performing one song.' Johwa also blames the musicians themselves for contributing to their plight, especially Afro jazz artistes whom he labelled as ego eccentric.

He feels it is high time that that Afro jazz artistes started working together just like their younger counterparts.  He said local kwaito musicians always work together and organise joint festivals.

But Johwa said Afro jazz artistes tend to be competitive towards one another.
He said during the festive season, Afro jazz artistes, including himself, organised different shows in the Northern part of the country, thereby splitting the audiences.  He believes that if they organised joint festivals, they could make more money and reduce costs.  

'We should always organise joint shows.  Together we stand and divided we fall,' he said in that familiar baritone.   He said local promoters should focus on bigger projects to bring artistes together.   Johwa decried that the government has banned the hosting of music shows at lodges and yet lodges are a huge source of income for Afro jazz artistes.   As a result, the artistes are going to suffer.  In the past, Johwa used to stage shows for tourists in lodges around the country, particularly in Maun.  

He views the ban as contradictory because bigger establishments like the Gaborone Sun are allowed to host shows. Johwa called for this restriction on lodges to be lifted.  He said the government should not come up with regulations that are going to deprive Batswana of a living.   Looking back over the past 12 months, Johwa the performer, reflects that it was a hectic and successful period for him.  The album that he released last year was doing well on the market.  There were also a number of corporate shows here and there.  At the end of the year, he toured the Northern part of the country.  He received prizes and the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) awards and during the presidential artistes competitions. 

Johwa has realised that music can bring food on the table if you do it professionally.   As a result, he is intending to come up with a sound management.  He is also intending to work closely with promoters and also to market his music.  'We need to embark on the international market,' he said.

Johwa is intending to make 2010 his year.  He is planning to tour other countries like Tanzania and South Africa.  He has already received a call from Tanzania in this regard.  

Johwa also plans to work on the 'Best of Ndingo Johwa' album this year.   Other projects might include acting in video comedies.  He says he wants to work with poets to incorporate their works into his music.  This would not be an entirely new project as he had worked on a similar project in the past.
Revellers should look forward to Satjilombe in his element this year.