Radijo comes home to roost

SHINGIRAI MADONDO
Correspondent | Thursday April 11, 2013 00:00

Having lived in South Africa since 2007, Radijo as Madiale is popularly known in the showbiz industry said the time has come for him to settle down at home and develop his career.  Radijo has been in the country since late March this year and he has brought with him everything to settle down comfortably in the country.

The 30-year-old comedian-cum-musician from Mmadibua ward at Matsiloje village in the northeastern district of Botswana said he will be shuttling between Francistown, Maun and Gaborone promoting his latest DVD titled Radijo In Prison. He said Setswana folk music has been selling like hot cakes in South Africa. But the proliferation of piracy and many groups which are not original have made Setswana folk music lose its spark.

'Piracy is killing us in South Africa.  In South Africa, they do not care about selling your pirated work next to your original works.  You will be selling the original stuff and cannot compete with them because they will be selling at a very low price,' said a worried Radijo.In Botswana, Radijo said musicians here are united and can organise themselves to fight the endemic music piracy in the country.  'But in South Africa, it is a different story altogether. Musicians and authorities alike do not care at all.  Here, the government is making some strides in ensuring that music piracy can be controlled,' said Radijo.

He expressed confidence that Botswana will win its war against music piracy, bearing in mind that the government through the Ministry of Trade and Industry has made it a point to help artists in ensuring profitability.  Radijo also said that some new groups which have emerged in the folk music industry have completely killed the power of music.

He lamented that South Africans used to like Setswana folk music but they have since discarded it because of the proliferation of music groups that lacked originality.'They are actually bringing down the power of music,' said the charismatic comedian-cum-folk musician.  The rib-cracker said he owes Batswana a lot.  He said Batswana have supported him through thick and thin, even while based in South Africa.  He believes it is time to give back for the support he has received from his countrymen.

He said he will be hosting family shows where both young and old will have the chance to witness his theatrics on stage.During the Easter Holidays, Radijo mesmerised his fans at the Maun bus rank where he performed for free while promoting his latest reloaded DVD.