Meet Mhaladi, the indigenous instrument maker

MPHO TLALE
Staff Writer | Wednesday May 1, 2013 00:00

 

This is the place where Zachariah Mhaladi of Mozeco's Music Instrument Manufacturers does his magic with his hands.  Outside his studio that is located at Thapong Visual Arts Centre, Gaborone is a mix of the equipment and material that he uses to do his work.

At 35 years, Mhaladi is doing what you usually expect to be done by experienced older men around the age of 60 and above.  Mhaladi is a manufacturer of indigenous instruments that are mainly used by folklore artists.  These instruments include segaba, setinkane, marimba, drums, timbila and traditional attire, amongst others.

Mhaladi says that his journey to end up being able to make music instruments started when he was a little boy. 'It all started from my love of music as a young boy,' he says.  He reminisces about his childhood days when his father, who was based in the Kgalagadi District at Kang then later Tsabong, bought him setinkane.  At first it started with just playing around with the instrument and learning how to play it which eventually led to him being fascinated as to how the instrument was made.

 'At first it all started with me playing the setinkane until curiosity got the better of me, but I was still too young and in primary school then,' he says.

However, as he grew up, his love for ingenious music remained constant and eventually he decided to do something about it.  Mhaladi says in 2002 he got out of his shell and started a business, importing marimba from Zimbabwe and selling them here.  However, with the passing of time he realised that travelling between Zimbabwe and Botswana was straining him.  So the talented artist says he decided to take up lessons on marimba-making while on his trips to Zimbabwe - and that was the beginning of greater things to come. Soon after the lessons he put what he had learnt to test and managed to succeed at making the musical instruments.  After learning how to make marimba, Mhaladi says he then moved on to get lessons from bannabagolo (old men) who are veterans at making such instruments - and all things worked well for the good of the ambitious young man.

Mhaladi says that he gets his material to make the instruments from surrounding bush areas. He says that he uses the mosalaosi tree, which is always readily available, after being cut down. As for the tins that are used to make segaba, he says those are easy to get as well because people always dispose of them after use, hence making it easier for him to make his pieces.

A man of many talents, Mhaladi does not only make the instruments but also offers other services such as instrument repair or maintenance as well as lessons on how to use those instruments.  He adds with a smile and says, ' I do not just make the instruments, and an added bonus is that I also know how to play them too'.  He adds that currently he gives lessons on how to play some of the instruments at Legae Academy in Gaborone.

Mhaladi says that so far Batswana have come forward to support him and his venture of making indigenous music instruments.  According to him, Batswana buy his products for various purposes.  Some buy them for decorative purposes.  For example, segaba can be framed and put up on the wall.  Other people buy them to give away as presents while some buy the instruments to learn how to play them.  He gives credit to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development for boosting his business after including music in their curriculum because they buy the music instruments from him.  He says that through making the instruments he plays a part in helping Batswana who do not know indigenous instruments get to see them.