It was here that the late Jabulani Tsambo, better known as Hip Hop Pantsula (HHP), was first appreciated by the mainstream for his unique craft. A pioneer of Motswako, a sub-genre blending Setswana and English, HHP captivated audiences with his fresh sound long before Gauteng, South Africa’s cultural hub, embraced the movement. That is why he later declared in a song that he "made Setswana fashionable." Over the weekend, his homeboys from Mahikeng and South Africa’s North West Province, backed by the RSA government, launched the Motswako Republic Tour in Gaborone to celebrate the genre’s legacy.
The main event, held at Tounel Night Club in Phakalane’s Mowana Park on Saturday, was packed to the rafters. Hosted by Scar of Metholo fame, the show drew a relatively older crowd, the men and women who came of age when HHP dropped "Maf-town" in 2001. The night saw the long-awaited reunion of Khuli Chana, Towdee Mac, and Kay Gee as Morafe, alongside Motswako heavyweights like Molemi and Tuks. They were joined by Fifi Cooper, Lection, Notshi, Hash One, and Huge Da Oracle, all from South Africa. Zeus, Motswako’s homegrown king, brought out lead guitarist Tabona "Mafia" Maseko during his set, delivering a powerful rendition of one of Jabba’s greatest classics, "Built This City”. The song originally features Lekoko Entertainment artists, most of them who were in the house, like Zeus, Tuks, and Towdee Mac. But it was Molemi who stole the show. Performing mostly acappella, the man affectionately known as Mojo Man had the entire club rap along to his intelligent Setswana wordplays and hits.
