Shanay releases hippy 'Lord Save My Motherland'

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Wednesday October 6, 2010 00:00

When I first saw the sleeve, I could not help admiring it because it has an international feel to it and when one sees it, he will be tempted to think it belongs to artists like Lil Wayne and co.  Now, having said that, Shanay is going to attract people with the sleeve of his latest release.

Lord Save My Motherland contains eight tracks namely Morena Boloka, Motherland, Re A Mo Leboga, Pula Tsa Letlhogonolo, Re Tshwana Le Maeba, Re A Mo Leboga (Instrumental), AIDS Song and Zebras.  All in all, the album which is mostly gospel tinged with motswako is listenable, but one cannot help feeling that Shanay could have done more on the production side.

As one listens to song after song in this album, one cannot help wishing that he could have increased the tempo in at least half the songs given the fact that he is a youthful and hippy artist.  Showbiz's suggestion is that Shanay should fire his producer and get someone who would know what his potential audiences might want.  At first, a listener might not mind the laidback approach, but as you listen to more and more of it, it becomes monotonous

As a motswako rapper and vocalist, Shanay is undoubtedly talented and he together with the likes of Testify has potential to change the local gospel music scene but he can only achieve that if he revisits the drawing board. 

One of the catchier tunes in the album is Re Tshwana Le Maeba. Another track that listeners might fall in love with is Pula Tsa Letlhogonolo in which the artist raps in Setswana, English and a Nguni language.  Morena Boloka is the artist's own rendition of the South African national anthem.  In track number two, Motherland, he pays homage Botswana and celebrates its wealth, peace and tranquillity.

Re A Moleboga is a rendition of the old gospel hymn that is popular with Pentecostals. In the track, AIDS Song, the artist heavily borrows from the popular chorus Morena Re Hauhela and it he addressed the AIDS pandemic that has been ravaging this country.  Zebras is dedicated to the national soccer team, its players and supporters and given the rising popularity of the team; one can only wish the song could have been racier and more danceable.

Lord Save My Motherland should appeal to those Christians who love the not-so conventional gospel songs.  This reviewer hopes that Shanay's next project will get young Christians dancing away.  Having said that, Showbiz found the album a brave attempt and this shows the direction that gospel music among the youth in Botswana is taking.  Lord Save My Motherland was produced by Keal Entertainment, sponsored by Polaba and the attractive sleeve was designed by Square GFX.