Footprint to stage traditional music expo

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Tuesday November 30, 2010 00:00

The organisers say the evening will be supported by music stalls from the various musicians and record labels, promoting and selling their products, while various Tswana cuisine, as well as the traditional brew will be on offer as part of the cultural expo.

Also performing at the event will be a number of traditional music groups that featured at the Domboshaba and Kuru festivals.  It is the second time this year that the company by Losika Seboni aka Luzboy has endeavored to expose the genre of music after doing so during the 2010 Toyota Desert race at the same venue.

The company has over the years also collaborated with Botswana Tourism to take local music to Toyota Desert race over night stops.

But Seboni explains that the traditional music expo concept was mooted in 2006, when the first event was held, followed by another big show in 2007, when Footprints collaborated with the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) to host the BOMU awards.  Back then Footprints staged a series of events, including a Botswana Music Week whose component was a Music Vs HIV March, a traditional music expo and ultimately the Botswana Music Awards.

'Over the years the AIDS march and the award ceremony have fizzled out.  However the star event from the above concept, the Traditional Music Expo, has remained.  Footprints will stage this annual traditional music festival again on Thursday December 2, 2010,' Seboni told Showbiz.

'For the fifth consecutive year, in line with contributing to growing the arts in Botswana, we feel that a specific day that celebrates and focuses on our local music heritage is essential.

Music and entertainment play a pivotal role in supporting all other industries and forms a key part of Botswana's social life. It also helps promote tourism and brands Botswana and diversify our economy away from diamonds,' Seboni went on.

He hopes that the event will help catapult Botswana's traditional flavour to new levels.  'This music genre is a precious cultural commodity and it is very important for Botswana and Batswana to claim this inheritance.  Lately, this genre has been exported to South Africa and other regions in a major way,' he said.