MUSICAL HISTORY OF BOTSWANA

Botswana is a large country with a sparse population. The eastern region of the
country where rainfall is more reliable, more densely populated than the westernsh
Kalahari Desert.
Because of these environmental differences, as well as the differing musical
traditions of the various cultural groups that make up the country's population,
the traditional instruments found in the country Botswana vary from region to
region.
However, since the gaining of independence in 1966, Botswana has lost many
indigenous
instruments to rapid urbanization. Except for a few mainstays, many traditional
instruments have
disappeared, as people have lost the ability to play or make them.

MUSICAL GENRES IN BOTSWANA

FOLK SONGS/TRADITIONAL SONGS

Traditional music of indigenous people is a vocal songs accompanied by clapping
hands with a nice and complicated rythmic lines. Botswana folk music in many cases
is accompanied by traditional instruments.
Traditional Tswana music is performed by Tswana people during feasts and special
occasions such as beer gatherings, weddings and initiation ceremonies.
During the colonial era, Tswana folk music was discouraged because it was
considered a hindrance to the proper development of the region and people. Since
independence for Botswana, folk music has been revived, though still the most
popular music is from elsewhere Africa (especially South Africa), United States and
Europe.
Many current music groups in Botswana are performing Tswana music and dance,
such as
CultureSpears, Matsieng, Mokorwana, Ditaola, Mokorwana, Makhinikhiri and many other
groups


KWASA KWASA
A clear way to describe Kwasa Kwasa dance is through comparison to Rhumba as the
dances are performed by wriggling from the waist down with baggy and loose pants as
the attire to complement the moves. The music is popular in the central parts of
African especially in the Congo and we have had artists like Kanda Bongo Man, Pepe
Kalle and Papa Wemba who emerged in the 1980s and 1990s.
The local music industry has done well over the years entertaining crowds during
public
and paid up shows throughout the country.
As other music genres got introduced Kwasa Kwasa saw challenges resulting in the
demise of many groups and the fact that assembling a live band is costly as well
did not help either.

KWAITO (KWASA-KWAITO)
The Kwaito music originated from the townships of Johannesburg and crossed over to
Botswana. Kwaito-kwasa is a genre of music unique to Botswana, created by fusing
the aforementioned genres of kwaito and kwasa kwasa. This fusion brought the faster
and more insistent rhythms of kwaito to the melodies and phrasings of kwasa-kwasa,
and is largely credited to the work of Vee Mampeezy.
The wide coverage of Kwasa-Kwaito on local radio stations and TV saw other new
artists
coming in and it is important to note that females also came into the picture with
the rise of Sizer (Naledi Lephoso Kaisara) who got well received in Botswana,
Zimbabwe and South
Africa to name a few.

AFRO POP/AFRO JAZZ
The two sounds of Afro-Pop and Afro-Jazz are put together as they are of similar
sounds and beats. The Botswana music incorporates South African Jazz and local
traditional music from the folklore to make the sounds and rhythms more appealing
to local and international audiences. Afro- pop and Afro-Jazz artists are few in
Botswana but audiences can never lack quality variety songs to listen to. There was
the introduction of the original jazz songs from the likes of Soccer Moruakgomo,
Banjo Mosele, Ndingo Johwa, Shanti Lo (hr Tumediso Loeto), Lister Boleseng and the
Women of Jazz Ensemble (Punah Gabasiane, Nono. Disele,Nnunu Ramogos), Kearoma
Rantao). Popular songs from various artists one can look for include"ntsa e jele
etsanvana ivO nna Delo robala
"mosadi yo", "ndobolo", and "domboshaba"

GOSPEL MUSIC
Botswana is mostly a Christian based country but there are other religions that
exist and are recognized in the country. Christian gospel music is very popular and
widespread within the country having grown over time. The gospel artists in
Botswana sing mostly in the two official languages (English and Setswana) but over
the years there has been a noticeable change with artists choosing to use
indigenous languages. Most singers started singing in their church choirs and
eventually released singles and albums to offer more soothing, gospel sounds to
their fans.

ROCK AND METAL

Though not so popular, this genre has a fair share of following in Botswana.
Botswana have come to know and appreciate the rock and metal music through local
artists who came through since 2000, even though ithas always been present in
Botswana for a long while. There are a few bands who toured southern Africa while
most played locally. Bands such as Nosey Road, Remuda, Wrust (formed in 2000),
Metal Orizon and Crackdust, Barren Barrel and
Skinflint. There are local themed shows which give platform to perform and wow
their fans.

Prominent Artists

Many current music groups in Botswana are performing Tswana music and dance,
such as CultureSpears, Matsieng, Mokorwana, Ditaola, Mokorwana, Makhinikhiri and
many other groups

The Kwaito music originated from the townships of Botswana
and saw artists such as Mapetla (hr Thabo Ntirang), Vee (hr Odirile Sento),
T.H.A.B.O(Thabo Benson Bolokwe) and groups that include Eskimos (Kagiso Ketswante)
(Kabo Mmolawa)(Goitsemodimo Binang & Keitshupile Mokwena) and MMP Family (Tebogo
Baipidi, Modiri Nage & Mothusi Jackals) emerge.
One can single out Vee popularly known as Vee Mampeezy as he took the Kwaito genre
to high levels and incorporating Kwasa Kwasa beats to create Kwasa-Kwaito as the
music beats became much faster requiring one to dance at a higher speed than the
normal Kwaito dance.
Vee's songs include "I do", "chika babe".
"waba tsile" and dumalana. He has great international exposure as he is featured on
international platforms such as MTV Base and Trace Africa through DSTV, the major
African cable television. He has further toured the world covering places such as
London, Birmingham and Leeds.
Jeff Matheatau, Franco (hr Frank Lesokwane) Chris Manto, Les Africa Sounds and
Alfredo Mos are amongst great artists who managed to popularize the genre Kwasa
Kwasa and get venues full through
their Tlatsa Lebala concerts, one previously held at the National Stadium
(Gaborone) in 2017. Famous songs which still get everyone on their feet include
"Ipabalelo tseleng", "Sephiri se dule", and "issa".


Phempherethe Pheto is one of the legends of gospel music in Botswana and has been
in the music industry for 23 years. He released his debut album in 1997 titled
"lekunutule morena" and continued to entertain the fans with good songs such Ke
tshepile Wena, Ke Bonye Phenyo, Balatedi, My refuge is with God and No Fornicators.
Phempherethe as famously known by the fans has compiled all his songs since his
first album and titled "Best of Phempheretlhe”
He is definitely a forefather of Gospel music in Botswana and has worked with other
legends such as Mmereki Marakakgoro, Mpho Nakedi, and other South African artists
such as Sipho Makhabane.
Born in Molepolole in March 28, 1972, Phempherethe perfected his art of playing
keyboard/piano in 1993 and soon started writing his own songs largely inspired by
the likes of Mmereki Marakakgoro, Derrick Ndzimande and Moruti Shoba. His music
evolved with technology from cassette tape, compact disc to current date technology
where fans for the legends can now watch and subscribe on YouTube to watch his
video.

Amongst popular Afro-pop musicians we have the mesmerizing Lizibo (Simon) with
serenading songs like "malebeswa", "itshwarelaneng" featuring Tshepo Lesole, and
“Nkabo kele kae”. Lizibo started singing at a young age and joined the famous KTM
Choir at the age 16. There is also the likes of Samantha Mogwe, Ashely Gops, Mpho
Sebina, Juju Vine (hrn Ontlogelang Junior
Sekolokwane), Mr Tagg (hr Evans Modubule), Han C (hr Hanceford Magapatona,and
Motiha (Mompe). The young Motlha reached fame after winning a local singing
competition of My Star season 9. He went on to produce songs such as "mmamotse”,
“suzanna” and “Hisa Hisa”
featuring ATI (hr Atlasaone Molemogi).

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS USED IN BOTSWANA

Some of the include the segaba and Setinkane. The Segaba is more like a Violin, in
the design, but uses only one string hooked to a tin. The Setinkane made with
varying forks, and played more like
keyboard.


There are percussion instruments, under which there are traditional drums
(matumba), hand rattles (woso) and leg rattles (mishwayo); wind instruments,
comprising nyele (transverse flute), pemba (river reed-flute) and the referee's
whistle (also called pemba); and the bows: muhubhe and dende.


The most commonly adapted instrument is the guitar. This is because guitars are
cheaper than instruments such as the piano or saxophone, and – above all – because
folk musicians can improvise and make their own guitars using industrial wires as
strings, a gasoline containers. This improvised ‘tin guitar’, known locally as the
motontonyane, is not only a revered traditional instrument but has brought about a
unique guitar tradition in Botswana. Over the years, a succession of folk musicians
have strung and played only the bottom four strings of their guitars, resulting in
a ‘four-string guitar’ tradition characterised by bassy rhythmic patterns and
three-note
chords.


The musical bow is only common among the Basarwa (San) people of Botswana.
Considered one of the oldest musical instruments in the world, the musical bow –
traditionally made of a bended branch, joined at both ends with a piece of sinew –
is said to have been around since the advent of the hunting bow.
Idiophones (self-sounding instruments) found in Botswana include leg rattles
(matlhowa), bones (marapo), clapping pieces (yikandiso) and bells (ngendjo). These
often form the accompaniment to vocal music, as do a selection of drums such as the
moropa and kika. There is also a rich collection of wind instruments, such as
lonaka-la-phala, lepatata, lonaka la tholo and lengwane, and these are
traditionally made from reeds and pieces of fluted bone. Common chordophone
(stringed) instruments in Botswana include the segaba, a type of single-stringed
violin, the lengope (mouth bow) and the segwana, which is made with a calabash.


REFERENCING

• https://allafrica.com/stories/200708070565. html(link is external)

• Denbow, I. & C Thebe, P (2006). Culture and Customs of Botswana Green
wood press
•