Minister drums up support for Dikakapa

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Thursday March 25, 2010 00:00

 

However the Botswana  group are in danger of missing out  of the top 4, according to the latest  updates in the Kora website, which shows that the Botswana group has not made it in the current top five which is currently  led by  Paul G of Angola, with  442358 points.

Alioune Nder of Senegal, follows Paul G in second place with  288194 points, while Zimbabwean  musician, Jusa, ranks third with 100105 points.

Chronik 2H of Senegal with 75585 votes and Ardiess of Benin, with 58959 points complete the top five so far.

Voting continues until  April 3, and voters can sms as frequently as they can.

The Botswana cultural music troupe made it to the top 20 semi-finals after seeing off challenges from such heavyweights as Oliver Mtukudzi, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Jimmy Dludlu in the  southern Africa category. They came second to Angola's Paul G in the category.

But they must gatecrash into the top  four for them to have any hope of landing the coveted prize.  Should they finish outside the top four in the voting Dikakapa's trip to Burkina Faso will be immaterial now as they will not get any prize. However,  the group's spokesman   Moagi Jambo Lekone explains that they have been told by the event organisers that they would not know  the top four until they have arrived in Burkina Faso.

'All the top 20 semi-finals  must be there, because you will never know if you have made it into the  top four. If  you are not there but you have made it into the top four, then  the group or artist will be eliminated,' he explained through  sms text.

The group says  that should they make it into the top four, then their performance at the awards night would determine whether they get the grand prize.

Voting is continuing through sms and the Kora website.  Earlier this week  minister Kgathi  summoned the group to his office and asked them to update him on the latest development.  That is when the ministry made the decision to sponsor their trip as well.

The ministry is sponsoring the group's trip to the finals in Burkina Faso where they  will perform at the event  should they finish in the top four.

The ministry has bought tickets for all the 11 members of the group. The  ministry will today host a farewell party for Dikakapa at Botswana Craft where all the members of the group will be presented with the air-tickets and other goodies.

Kgathi followed up his meeting with  Dikakapa with a press release urging the nation, Botswana foreign missions, organisations, and individuals to vote for the Botswana group in large numbers, hoping the message will not fall on deaf ears.

'Members of the public are urged to SMS the word 'KORA(space)DIKAKAPA' to 0024 898 4000 or vote through the website address www.koraawards.org. This is important as the group is representing the country and hopes to fly the country's flag high', reads  Kgathi's  rallying cry.

Local media houses such as Botswana Television (Btv) RB 2, RB1 and Duma FM have also  given the group massive support by running promotional adverts for free.

According to Dikakakapa spokesman Moagi Lekone, the first prize is US$1 million or P8 million, while second prize is US$ 100, 000. Third prize is US$ 50, 000 while the fourth prize is  US$25, 000.