Given Kolobe, the youthful coordinator of three year old Sebirwa cultural troupe named Sebada attributes their success at the 2014 President Day Competitions to resielence.
Sebada, a Bobonong ensemble walked away with the floating trophy and P22, 500 when they were crowned Sebirwa dance champions. They beat three others at the national finals held in Gaborone.
Now relaxing in his home town of Bobonong Kolobe, 33, says the trophy was a result of years of perserverence.
It has not always been smooth sailing for the champions though. He recalls when their efforts were hampered by lack of funds at the embryonic stage of their existence.
As he looks at the trophy in admiration, the winning song they performed at the national finals keeps on playing in his sharp memory. It is an old Sebirwa song used traditionally in weddings and other wedding related practices such as the celebration of the dowrie. The song is known as ba bona nna lesogwana .
Kolobe says the fact that they performed an ancient Sebirwa song speaks volumes about the troupe’s determination to preserve culturethrough song.
The members of the Sebada group are also youthful and Kolobe says it is comforting seeing the youth involved in the preservation of their traditional song and dance.
Kolobe fears that with so much musical influence from modern forms, it is possible to lose all what their forefathers had handed down, hence the need to woo the youths into cultural preservation through son and dance.
They are not about to squash their newly won P22,500 first prize cash in a lavish party though. The group’s coordinator has a plan to use the funds to develop the group further.
He is talking about buying an attire for the troupe, traditional music instruments such as drums and other side items that would give the group a professional image in the eyes of the fans and other audience.
