06 Apr 2014

The 21st century will surely be rich in new musical discoveries and development as it will require quality pieces, competitions, concerts and, most of all, artistes capable of effectively communicating musical sensations to listerners.

The national marimba competition gathered marimbists around the country at the Mahalapye Cresta Lodge over the weekend (April 5-6) to foster cultural understanding and to promote the popularisation and development of the marimba art and culture.

It seemed SOS villages know what best to do as they seemed the favourite of the viewers, and to verify that, the Francistown SOS walked away with P5000 and a floating trophy as first position.

The second prize winner Tlokweng SOS went away with a cash prize of P2 500, Kid Academy band, came third with P1 500, while the rest of the teams gained experience.

Podulogong Rehabilitation Centre, one of the two groups of people with visual impairment, scooped position one and walked away with P2 500 while runner ups, Maape Group got P1 000.

The competition was themed Excelling Together Through Marimba Music Towards 2016.

Witnessing the day’s events, the acting chief executive officer of Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO )  Brian Dithebe who said the theme showed a long term vision for naturing and showcasing talent in Traditional Marimba music.

Dithebe said the BTO too had a kin interest in the growth of the competitions to a festival that celebrates the diversity of marimba music attracting both local and international visitors.

He said BTO would also contribute to expand into the vision as it is mandated to market and promote tourism in Botswana.

He stated that BTO had made deliberate strategic decisions to expand tourism products to include other forms of tourism such as heritage sites, culture and sporting activities.

For that reason he said that BTO was involved and supported events such as Dithubaruba, Son of the soil, Western Kgalagadi Cultural festival, Khawa Dune Challenge, the Toyota 1 000 Desert race and would support marimba as well.

Outlining the objectives of the day, the project overview official, Victor Mhaladi extended gratitude to BTO for its financial sponsorship and partnership.

Mhaladi said the competition had been dedicated to success since 2008 to promote and popularise the marimba culture and art. 

He said he was convinced that the competition would contribute further to the development of marimba and that amongst the talented candidates, true musicians would emerge as marimbist.

“We want to take the competition further and introduce panel discussions, master classes, debates, presentations, workshops, which would be stimulating” he stated , saying that would also encourage research which aims at exploring ways of integrating traditional and modern aspects of cultural pluralism.

Music is a language that transcends borders, touches people’s souls, inspires and elevates artistic taste.

Music penetrates in every aspect of life and marimba music in particular expresses emotions and feelings in a most direct manner.

Mhaladi said they were determined to take Marimba in Botswana to greater heights, adding that in future “this competition will expand to drumming and dance workshops”.

He said the annual competition’s main objective was to develop skills, capabilities and habits to enable artists to participate in music activities as a performer.

The competition had attracted  14 country’s out-of-school youth and in-school youth groups, including a special category of people with visual disability of which  Mhaladi said it would develop talent and ensure that Botswana had a good pool of marimba musicians.

Groups performed one musical piece of their own choice, in line with the theme of the competition.

“The eclectic and exciting mix of music experienced at the competitions gives a clear indication not only of Botswana musical miscellany, but of the versatility and adaptability of marimba as a musical medium,”  Mhaladi said.

Michael Sibanda, who was part of a panel of the judges, admitted that the performance was brilliant.

Sibanda hailed musical teachers for the groups for their effort into contributing to the development of music industry in Botswana.

He said they (judges) were able to listen to different genres compiled and arranged by music teachers.

Francistown SOS group teacher Shima Ramaeba expressed gratefulness for his group to be chosen from a pool of national ensamble as the finest marimba players.Ramaeba acclaimed winning to preparing extensively for the competition.

He said it took weekends and evening practices to get ready and urged other groups not to lose heart but take the competition as an experience to improve.

He hailed organisers for a platform for numerous music lovers to enjoy marimba art as the new music of the world. ENDS