Borrowing from the sounds of the forefathers?

It may have been criticised for ripping off Tswana cultural music legends but Radio Botswana's Tswana music programme, Dipina le maboko has become a library of knowledge for contemporary musicians who turn to it to learn how the legends of old used to recite their poetry and songs.

When modern Tswana cultural music musicians  imitate the legends their albums become instant hits and sell like hot cakes.

 
In most instances you would think one of the legends of old is singing when you hear one of these youngsters' hits taking the airwaves and the nation at large by storm. When Culture Spears caused sensation last year with their hit album, Kulenyane, it was all down to the youthful singers copying well from the influence of the Tswana folklore legends.  When the track Kulenyane first hit the airwaves many were asking whether this could be one of folklore legend Ratsie Sethako's compositions that had never been released before.

Editor's Comment
Govt must crack whip on Cross border crime

“Betrayal hurts, but knowingwho was betraying hurts even more.”- Garima SoniWhat the men of Ditlharapa, Molete and neighbouring villages uncovered is a cross-border enterprise. The modus operandi, as the suspect himself reportedly confessed, is industrial: groups operating in multiple villages, fences cut with impunity, stolen goats walked into South Africa, warehoused at Makhubung, then sold in batches of 200 to a commercial farmer in...

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