BMD goes the Afro pop way to garner support

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Wednesday November 3, 2010 00:00

 

So Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) have gone the Afro pop way in the party's album called Botswana Wa Rona.

 The party's leaders are well aware of the power of music in attracting people, one of the party leaders Butsalo Ntuane, a well-known fan of South African disco group Splash, would attribute part of his political success to this group.

His last rally before the 2009 general election when he was still campaigning under the banner of Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) attracted big crowds and it makes sense to think that some of the people who voted for him to oust former Gaborone West South Member of Parliament (MP), Robert Molefhabangwe, had been lured during the show which took place just two days before the election.

And BMD chairman, Gomolemo Motswaledi, became a household name with KTM Choir before making a name for himself in politics.  So to these two men music means more than just relaxing.

The album's opening track Saulo is an expression by the party of the alleged oppression by the ruling BDP leadership. However, it lacks that catchy appeal for an opening track, but one could end up thanking her/himself for not pressing the eject button prematurely because the music sounds better and better as the album continues.

From track number two to the last even those who love to hate BMD would just find themselves ignoring their political alignment and dancing to these afro vibes.  Motswaledi comes in on track number three.

Like in Kirk Franklin's track Lean On Me, Motswaledi only gives a slow speech while the instrumentals and the backing vocals continue in the background.  This is where the lanky politician gives listeners an insight into what the party is all about, what it represents, explaining what its colours and V shape emblem represents.

Some years back folklore musician Stika Sola Molefhi did a song called Ba Duma Duma Ka Ene and the new party has 'borrowed' part of that composition in the track Baya Duma, a BMD praise song.

Love them or hate them, the BMD album will make you tap your feet with its house influenced Afro pop beats and spick and span vocals.