22 Mar 2015

Some big shots in the local music industry have enjoyed the international platform and continue to do so, courtesy of Streethorn Promotions.

Jazz musos in the likes of Shanti Lo, Nnunu Ramogotsi and Kearoma Rantao have toured European countries staging solely Botswana brewed music and it seems the Europeans still want more of this taste.

Streethorn manager, Soares Katumbela then thought of a bigger picture as he ensembled more big names to put up tunes to present Botswana to the world.

Soares has now brought together nine seasoned local artistes to form a music communal he dubbed Re Batswana Music Ensemble.

The ensemble was officially formed last December and consists of lead singers; Banjo Mosele, Socca Moruakgomo, Kearoma Rantao, Lister Boleseng, Ndingo Johwa, Nnunu Ramogotsi, Punah Gabasiane, Samantha Mogwe and Shanti Lo.

The singers will not be on their own, but have a backing band consisting of musicians in the likes of Kabelo Tamukate on the bass guitar, Gomotsegang Rapoo on lead guitar and Kopano Mantswe on the percussion.

The band also consists of Mathews Dasco who plays the tenor saxophone while Andrew Chinganga does the alto saxophone as well as the flute. Tumelo Mafoko plays the keyboard for the band while Leroy Nyoni does the drums.

The ensemble also has backing vocalists; Chatapi Sibonge, Chedza Majwabe and Naomi Tese. This team will from September to December be based in Europe as they tour countries such as Norway, Finland and Sweden.

In an interview with BOPA, Soares said after taking several musicians to Europe for four years, he was of the view that future trips to Europe ought to involve a larger entourage of Botswana musicians, hence an ensemble concept.

“Through the ensemble, we intend to sell Botswana outside, as this will also act as a build-up to Botswana’s 50th anniversary celebrations,” he said.

“I am currently looking for more bookings across the globe and I intend to travel to Europe in July to book for more performances for the ensemble,” he said.

He said the ensemble also came as a way to change the music game in Botswana to show strength in unity.

The artistes chosen he said, love this rare and unique occasion and had since joined forces to make this collaboration a fact.

This collaboration, he said came as a great opportunity to bring the sound and excitement of Botswana music to new audiences as well as to take Botswana’s sound track global.

“We want to promote cultural exchange, to give Batswana musicians an international exposure, promote a sustainable relationship between European jazz artistes and their Botswana counterparts as well as to help publicise the work that Botswana Tourism is doing to diversify the nation’s relies on mineral economy,” he said.

In terms of fusing the old and young generation, Soares said this was one concept that was lacking in Botswana, hence through the ensemble, ‘we are trying to encourage and promote unity among the old and the young’.

He said the ensemble would also encourage bonding among the musicians, as they would be selling the country with one voice.

The ensemble, he added, had been rehearsing since January and would go into a music camp in Ghanzi for 20 days in June, where they would be rehearsing, holding workshops and bonding to prepare for the tour.  

He said the ensemble would be launched in September in Gaborone. ENDS