The first annual Ga bo Rangolo music festival will go on as planned on December 26 at Tapela farms in Tonota.
The show that recently re-branded from Ga bo Tate to Ga bo Rangolo is a brainchild of one local musician Dithuso Selepeng also known as DT in the music circles. In a press brief recently, Selepeng addressed many issues among them the artists’ contracts and sponsors. He announced that they have a lot of sponsors among them Francistown City Council, Cresta, Liquorama, The Voice and Sunday Standard as well as the Department of Youth and Culture, which has sponsored the show with P52 000. Selepeng also responded to the allegations that he was instructed to change the name of the show by high-ranking politicians. “The brand change had nothing to do with any political affiliation, we changed the name to create hype and the new name encompasses everyone,” he said.
Selepeng said Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng, endorsed the idea because he saw a lot of potential. He said they would hand over a cheque as a way of giving back to the community. “We will work closely with elders and the village chief,” he said. Concerning the recent controversy of artists, Selepeng said they only had a minor problem with two artists.
“We wanted them on board but the issue has been resolved,” he said. Selepeng was accused of using big names to push tickets sales. Zeus, Ricky Lamar and Franix are some of the artists who were alleged to have complained about the presence of their names in the line-up without their consent.
For his part, the festival logistic director Charles Timile said the publicity is not at the infant stages anymore. “With media help, we have achieved tremendous growth and now people know about the show,” he said.
One of the newly introduced artists to the lineup Berry Heart congratulated Ga bo Rangolo festival for a 100 percent line-up act. “I am happy to be in the lineup, we are struggling as local artists,” she said.
The full line-up include, THABO, Eskimos, DramaBoi, JuJu Boy, BK Proctor, Latimmy, ATI, Eugene Jackson, MMP family, Scar, EPIC, Buckshot, Mapetla, Lizibo, Letso, Cici, DJ Oats, DJ Gouvea, Chrispin the Drummer, DJ Collastraw, Ricky Lamar and many others.
