Yes, Konkrete is simply untouchable

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Wednesday January 20, 2010 00:00

 

However, one gets a better feel of Konkrete when he raps in Kalanga as this is the language he uses to better express himself. Even if you are not Kalanga or cannot understand the language you are likely to feel the impact of Konkrete's tracks and you are sure to be left looking for a translator to explain what he is saying.

Dekonstruktion was released on December 4 but has songs that have been playing on local television and radio stations for over a month. A song that has been playing the longest is the albums bonus track and single titled What You Want featuring Orakle. The track is also featured in Orakles upcoming album titled Gemini and is currently playing on Yarona FM's top 20 countdown. Another single that is doing quite well is Solid featuring Man E. The track has a video that has been playing frequently on Botswana Television (Btv) and Gaborone Broadcasting Television (GBC TV).

Listeners should, however, be on the lookout for tracks such as Ngwanangu featuring Eve, Livy Ya Moshate and King Kon. In King Kon, Konkrete passes a remark about local RnB star Kabo Matlho. Konkrete says: 'Bangwe ba lona ga ba kitla ba ntshwara like Kabo Matlho bana le go loser bo site ba rototse matlho,' which directly translates to, 'some of you cannot touch me, like Kabo matlho you have got a tendency of being loose even though your eyes are wide open.' This sounds like a negative remark but Konkrete says that he has the utmost respect for Matlho as a musician and as a person and used his name in the track only as a metaphor to put a point across. He says that some people will never understand where he is going with his music, which is why he used the line 'never ba ntshware' (they cannot touch me). 'The rest of the line basically refers to the fact that even if I try to make them see why I'm doing this they just don't get it. Their eyes are wide open but they just don't get it,' he emphasised.

Konkrete said that the reason he uses figures of speech is to add flavour to his music. He said he considers himself a poet because to him rap and poetry overlap. 'They exploit the same literary devices to deliver certain themes or messages,' he said.Another interesting track in the album is Forever Speak featuring Kwezi and Queen D. Konkrete says that when growing up speaking Kalanga in public seemed like an abomination. He said he never used to speak Kalanga in the streets or at school even to his Kalanga friends as he was afraid of the ridicule he would have to endure. 'The only time I used to speak Kalanga was at home and this is a habit I am trying to break amongst the youth. 'This sort of behaviour has to stop, not only among Kalangas but also among other tribes in Botswana that are considered minority tribes,' he said.

He said that allegations by some people that he is pushing his tribalism agendas through his music are untrue. He said the statement that there is a thin line between promoting one's culture and being a tribalist is true but said he is simply trying to promote Kalanga culture. Konkrete, however, lashed out at the Botswana government saying if it's anything they are the ones who are tribalist as they have always promoted Setswana and English cultures neglecting other cultures. Konkrete fully describes this in Forever Speak. He emphasises that the promotion of English and Setswana cultures discriminating others is visible in the education system of Botswana as the system is scripted and disseminated in both languages. Dekonstruktion was however mastered by Altitude Sounds at Fireworks Studio located in Extension 10, Gaborone.

The album has 18 tracks including the bonus track. All the tracks in the album were mixed by Man E apart from Solid which was mastered by Goof. The album features about 20 different artists, including Nomadic, HT, Apollo Diablo, Fosta Juliano and Dice tiro di maswe. Producers of the album include DJ Ethal, Krypto, Prez Beats and Berry Bone. The album sleeve was designed by Galanga. Dekonstruktion can currently be found at Setlhareng.com and Mafia Soul for P60.