Local promoter seeks to break SA dominance

Staff Writer | Thursday November 4, 2010 00:00

Chere said over the weekend that he wants to break the dominance of South African musicians in Botswana by bringing in artists from other parts of the continent.  'I want to break the South African monotony.  Kiss Africa wants to bring change in Botswana music,' he explained. 

He was speaking after a show at the Botswanacraft in Gaborone by Kenyan Hip-hop star Nameless, the 2009 MTV Africa Artist of the Year.  Chere was the promoter and event manager of the show held to mark the annual Kenya Carnival.  He said that he is now the contact person from Nameless in Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

The promoter plans to organise more shows for the Kenyan musician in the region in the near future.  He said he is already planning to bring another Kenyan R'n'B and reggae star, Wyre, to Botswana.

On Saturday, Nameless thrilled revellers at Botswana Craft supported by local artistes Eugene Jackson and Kenny Mackenzie with DJ Bax acting as the DJ for the Kenyan artist.

However, the crowd, which was predominantly Kenyan, complained that Nameless' performance was far too short.  The musician left the crowd asking for more after a superb display with his two female dancers.  Revellers hungry for live Kenyan music shows danced till after 1 am. 

Nameless is the first Kenyan musician to stage a show in Botswana since Them Mushrooms in 1990s.  The chairman of the Kenya Friendship Association (KEFA), William Kaboro, said that they intend to bring Kenyan artists to perform at the Kenyan Carnival every year.

After the show, Nameless said he might perform again in Botswana next year.  He said he wants to establish links with Botswana musicians so that they can hold collaborative shows in the two countries.