It was a spectacular weekend of song and dance

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Friday July 20, 2012 00:00

 

Seperu, Sebirwa, Hosana, Diware, Polka, and dikhwaere dances saw new groups lifting the titles for the first time since the Heritage month's music and dance competitions were launched four years ago. In contemporary music category, the live band section also produced a brand new winner as, Kalanga jazz maestro Ndingo Johwa bagged the title for the first time, denying Punah Gabasiane the chance to earn her third title in the category. Franco Lesokwane star Ponka, won for the first time in Best new comer.

In the Kalanga spiritual dance, Hosana, which used to be dominated by Gaborone group, Mogwana, the title went to another Gaborone group, Ngwao Letshwao. The group is scheduled to take part in Belgium and Reunion Island as part of the cultural exchange programme later this year alongside female poet Berry Heart.

Mavuashire Cultural Group also won in the Seperu dance in their first appearance in the finals this year. Polka dance, introduced last year, also produced a new winner in Gareng ga Dithota Group, from Khawa.

In the Sebirwa dance, Re Tla Re Ke Dipitse were crowned the winners, beating off stiff competition from last year's winners, Rethekgeng.

Other new winners this year are Kambera Group of Etsha 6 in the Diware dance.

Meanwhile, dikhwaere dance made its debut with Mochudi choir, Sedibelo bagging the first prize.

There were familiar faces in other dance categories, with Matsosa Ngwao Group of Kasane repeating their feat in the Setapa dance. They won again in 2008.

 Few years ago this group tried their hand in commercial traditional dance music and released a memorable hit, Seno-sa-marena, but their success was shortlived, forcing them to recoil to their Kasane base.

They also boast of performance contracts with most of the lodges in Kasane for entertaining tourists.  In 2007 they took part in cultural exchange programmes in Namibia and India.

Dipela Tsa Ga Kobokwe from Molepolole proved to be the masters of phathisi dance as they bagged another national title, following their feat in 2010.

Ditawana Traditional Group, from Maun, which won in the setapa dance in 2009, were crowned the winners yet again.

In the drama category Jwaneng group,  Moremogolo Extension Theatre, won for the umpteenth time. They have been dominating this category since 2009, although last year this prize went to Madiba drama group.

Odirile Karabo Brooks won in comedy for the second year running, while Solly Sebotso of Morena-Pidipidi fame, lifted his fourth national title in katara.

But there were new winners in segaba and setinkane, with Mmoloki Matlho, and Godfrey Moeng bagging the first prizes in that order.