Apart form the jokes from co-host Michael ‘Dignash’ Morapedi there was very little entertainment at the 35th Botswana National Sports Council awards.
The show had promised exciting performances but it was only a few who could fulfil the promise. The night’s biggest catch was supposed to be veteran South African musician Ray Chikapa Phiri, but the respected musician could not get the crowd excited. Perhaps choosing to go with less popular tracks was his undoing. But he was able to salvage something with his last piece, Fire Passion and Ecstasy. While there were no encore requests and wild cheers, the crowd clapped in applause when he finished his performance.
The crowd expected Socca Moruakgomo to include his popular track Lefatshe on the night, but their wishes just remained wishes. The local jazz man got cheers from the crowd as he dished his Wena number. The night’s surprise package, HHP was also not at his brilliant best. After local cultural ensemble Mafitlhakgosi ushered him in expectations were high.
His dance with the group’s popular young dancer Young Bera, ignited curiosity from the audience but once the local group disappeared into the background, the steam evaporated. The crowd did not appear amused as the burly musician performed Ba a Hapala.
He tightened things at the end of his performance with some Eloyi Church Dance, soliciting some cheers from the audience. Rising house musician Gaone of the popular Kopisa track was among the few shining starlets of the night. Once again her track, which has been blasting the airwaves recently proved an attractive piece of art to both young and old.
The highlight of her performance was marked by the emergence of her female dancer who effectively stole the limelight with her heart-filled dance moves.
To add a truly cultural feel to the event, traditional dance troupe Makwakwa came to the stage and while their first piece was just lukewarm their final song Tshikinya Kgarebe serenaded the crowd. Nono Seile put a polishing stroke to the night with Borre to prove what an exciting jazz woman she is. It was also a night of good fashion. Right from the hosts, Dignash and Sumaiyah Marope down to ordinary folks in the crowd, many were dressed to kill. Marope changed her outfits several times but it was her first appearance that captivated everybody including the television producers.
The former Miss Botswana came draped in a long cream dress that overshadowed Dignash’s blue slim fit suit. With some shining beats from top right down to the waist level, complemented by a lacy bottom part, the dress simple stood out. The night’s biggest star Nijel Amos was not to be left out as he stood out in a maroon slim fit suit that nicely hugged his small frame.
