Poets steal the show at traditional music expo

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Monday December 5, 2011 00:00

 

Letsatsi and Ntirelan Berman proved in their separate performances that traditional Tswana poetry and story-telling were still a favourite among cultural enthusiasts.

When he took to the stage few had expected Letsatsi would spice up their dinner. Looking somehow tired and uninspired the lad from Serowe painted a picture of a performer lacking in confidence but within a few minutes he had endeared himself to the crowd in a big way.

It was not surprising when he was called back to the stage for another round when all other performers had only done one session each.

To make it even more interesting for the crowd the poet decided to do his second performance walking among the crowd instead of standing on the high stage.

Money started flying around as he would pick a crowd member and teasingly recite a poem about them, as it is the norm in this kind of poetry, would 'beg' for something at the end of it.

The trick worked as he left the place with pockets full of money from admirers who called for more and more.Berman had his own style of shaking the crowd. His was a combination of music, poetry and story-telling compressed in one performance.

Often referred to as a one-man band, Berman boasted as the master of guitar and harmonic, the two instruments, which 'took' over every time he took a break vocally.

Such was a good fusion of the two that the crowd was left mesmerised at the young man's depiction of our elders' history in song and dance.

But if there was one thing this event demonstrated it was Botswana's cultural diversity. From folk music by Stampore and Solo B (Solomon Monyame) to Dikakapa and Inalegolo Traditional Dance group.

Shumba Ratshega, Dikakapa and Gong Master could have represented the modern traditional music artsist whose creativity has revolutionised this type of music resulting in the fast selling contemporary blend.

But Inalegolo Traditional Dance group from the Kgalagadi district gave the audience a synopsis of what traditional Basarwa music and dance is all about.

Many people would just assume that it is easy to create a good sound by clapping hands but this group demonstrated that it takes much talent to actually use claps to create good music even without any lyrics.

The Basarwa type of dance has always been unique to the male dancers making only slight movements of their bodies while enlarging their chests as if to show who has the biggest one, something which did not come up in other performances.

Former Kora nominees Dikakapa still create a storm when taking to the stage. The band with more muscular men than any other in the country was clearly proud of their big torsos.

They are a creative lot and apart from the male members' muscles often being the centre of attraction the way they would bring on their female counterparts into the mix with a good coordination of dance moves turned the crowd crazy.

Bifm chief executive officer (CEO) Tiny Kgatlhwane told the audience that her company believes in traditional music as one of the many ways of diversifying the economy.

'As a company which deals with investment into the future we believe it is right to be involved in such an event because it would be employing some of our people in the future. Arts and culture plays a big role in growing the economy,' she said.