The sound system on the night was also superb but it was the dramatic stories that run through the video that appeared to impress the audience most. The director of the video designed a particular storyline for each song in the video. The final product looked like an opera as the guests enjoyed the storyline, dance, and music. The hit song, Kulenyane's video sent everyone roaring with laughter. The director used the element of suspense well to keep the viewer guessing. In the play, a husband whose wife is cheating on him is determined to track her secret lover down. The director decided to reveal only the man (Kulenyane)'s big size shoes and its tracks.
The husband prepares traditional weapons like knobkerries, axes, and whips, and takes his donkey on the hunt for his nemesis. The jealous husband swears that he will teach Kulenyane a lesson once he catches him. But by the time the song ends, Kulenyane is still seen visiting his 'concubine' and sneaking away with ease, as the lovers continue with their clandestine relationship. One of the guests said while he was impressed with the Kulenyane's story, that he wished he could have seen him caught and brought to book for his mischief!
Human rights activists would enjoy the video, Mmapula. Until you have watched the dramatic scenes about this song, it is not easy to appreciate it as a woman liberation struggle sort of song. In the video, the director depicts a woman and her child as they are abused by a cruel husband/father who kicks them out of the house. It is all about the pain and suffering that women and children are often subjected to by men.
Mmapula is shown walking away from her matrimonial house with her child to some unknown destination. On the way, some men try to take advantage of her, and she and her child run through deserts and hills. It is indeed a touching story about the problems faced by women and children. This video needs to be watched by everyone if gender equality and women empowerment in Botswana are to be accomplished.
Some urbanites would find the video, Nchadinyana, rather offending. The dramatic scenes rekindle conservative Tswana expectations about a woman. In traditional Tswana society, a prudent woman was expected to be of sober habits and a non-smoker. Any woman seen drinking liquor and smoking cigarettes like men, was considered an embarrassment, a pariah. Nchadinyana mocks the modern culture of women who smoke and drink. The traditionalists will for sure applaud Culture Spears for the effort but the urbanised Motswana would see the video as entrenching the traditional stereotypes. In the video no one wants Nchadinyana to marry his or her son.
The younger audience will feel represented in the video, Borikhirikhi, which is based on a decades old children's game. The director has engaged school pupils to play the game in the video. The event was attended by among others Steez of Btv's Flavour Dome who told the guests that he is so much in love with traditional music. The rapper, who spotted a hip-hop attire and a cap turned sidewards, amazed everyone when he said there is no other music that appeals to him like Tswana music. Kulenyane members were all over the place running the show. So busy were they that they did not even have time to look neat and professional on their big day.
Kabelo Mogwe, the lead vocalist who doubles as group manager, was also responsible for welcoming guests and checking if all invited guests had come. The rest of the members were busy selling merchandise on the evening. They (Culture Spears) did not have a word to say at the launch of their product. Looking bulky from the success of their hit album, they only appeared in front of the guests to greet them with a bow before reverting to their chores of the evening.
