Mmegi

The collapse of the BNF anthem

The last dance: The BNF, like other political parties, uses songs to win public attention  PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO
The last dance: The BNF, like other political parties, uses songs to win public attention PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

Popular political music allows voters to be involved in the political process, and offers them the platform to appreciate the things happening around them, writes Mmegi Staffer RYDER GABATHUSE

These are the words of USA-based Nigerian scholar, Associate Professor Uche T. Onyebadi of Texas Christian University.

The words of this scholar resonate well with the situation of Botswana National Front (BNF), a member of the ruling coalition party, the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC). For many years, the BNF relished moments of glory through an anthem composed by the party’s former scribe, the late Palapye-born Klaas Motshidisi. The anthem according to those in the know was compiled around 1969. The late Motshidisi is also credited for having authored other liberation songs for the trade unions in the country around the time he did the BNF popular anthem.

The BNF, like other political parties, uses songs to win public attention and generally appeals to a large number of people as music and politics are often interconnected. Sadly, after the recent historic victory of the ruling UDC, the BNF, a party contracted to the umbrella coalition had to cease the use of its lovable and unifying anthem. To many BNF youthful enthusiasts born post Botswana’s independence (1966), the song is senior to them and it was amongst the many tools that provided the adhesive that held the party together.

The anthem was used to induce the masses into consenting that the then-opposition BNF had the wherewithal to provide an alternative government amid talk peddled by the BDP that ”there was no alternative to it.”

The new UDC status could mean that the BNF’s popular anthem, which was compiled circa 1969, is one of the early casualties of the newly BNF-acquired status as part of the ruling elite. President Duma Boko (State and the UDC president) also dabbles as the president of the BNF. For almost 55 years, the anthem was the BNF’s darling song, which also propelled the party diehards into a frenzy whenever it was sung at party official functions. Dividends have finally been paid off after years of a struggle that appeared to be somewhat not rewarding.

The protest anthem with neo-colonialism charms will have to be archived, as the BNF of the UDC is now part of the ruling party and it now speaks a different political language altogether. The struggle is, however, not over yet as the party has to contend with the delivery of its promises made to the masses through its 2024 campaign manifesto.

“Political music may be a parody of a popular song with new lyrics or simple substitution of names and variations of text; an old song assuming new meanings based on current realities that are different from the time it was first composed or changing the tunes of an already existing song,” observes Onyebadi. As the expert suggests, the BNF would have to contend with either crafting a new song altogether and then throwing the old song into the party’s archives. They also have a choice of borrowing from the old anthem so that a new song crafted can bear the reflection of where they all started with the struggle to ‘emancipate’ Batswana from an almost six-decade one-party State. The BNF, as the party secretary-general Ketlhalefile Motshegwa spoke to Mmegi last week, might find itself caught in between avoiding watering down a song that fanatically appealed during the struggle by simply cutting off what has been overtaken by events and pasting up what they think would continue charming to the party. What matters chiefly is the party’s new messaging going forward in the new dispensation.

“A le a le bona lekgotla la madomi le tsietsa setshaba sa Botswana sere puso ke ya sone le bana kante le ya sefora... Enyelane o santse a re busa a iphithile ka mokwata wa Domi...ga go epe phetogo.”

The song, for the longest time cast aspersions on the former ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), which lost power less than a month ago on October 30. The BNF accused the BDP of being a stooge of its colonial master, claiming that even in the absence of the British colonial masters, the BDP rule was akin to a protectorate as it was failing the interests of the masses at heart.

The essence of the anthem message was simply to help the party (BNF) attain State power, which has now left the BNF with a mammoth task of delivering as part of a new government. For the generations to come, the song will be archived so that people would appreciate the party’s struggle period. Even last weekend at the BNF leadership forum, the party for the first time forgone singing its anthem on consideration that it no longer served its purpose as its messaging has been overtaken by events.

As our expert observes, it is common that politicians and singers, “craft pertinent lyrics to drive home their targeted political messaging through song and dance. Whatever messaging they want can be summed up through certain songs to enunciate some patterns of thoughts and moods about politics.” Music possesses a unique power to inspire, motivate and energise a political campaign, as the BNF leadership will show.

Recently appointed Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs and BNF secretary-general, Motshegwa, conceded in a recent interview that his party’s popular anthem would have to undergo, “some alterations to match the current developments.”

“In addition to any other thing that we are destined to do, of course, we will craft another anthem to reflect current socio-economic and political dynamics,” Motshegwa told Mmegi.

He was quick to further explain that the anthem will definitely be part of the heritage songs. “It forms part of the history of the organisation and our struggle. It’s a song in protest against neo-colonialism. So, the song will continue to be sung in party events and activities,” added Motshegwa.

The lyrics of the BNF anthem further appeal for unity of purpose against the fallen BDP regime: “A re tshwaraganeng bomme, borre le bana ga go epe phetogo. Mangole ame a a roroma, kutlobotlhoko e mpheditse maatla, maatla bomme, borre le lona bana kopanang le ganeng diterata tsa domkraga. Diterata di tsile go fokotsa dikgomo, ditsile go kgaola masimo.”

Editor's Comment
UDC's 100 Days: Please deliver your promises!

We duly congratulate them to have ousted the long ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) from power. Prior to taking power from the BDP, the coalition had made several election promises that are credited for influencing change and swaying the people to vote in its favour.The party had made an undertaking, which its leader and President Duma Boko consistently bellowed in his campaign trail. These undertakings were promises that Batswana would be...

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