21 Apr 2016

 The cattle post appears to be an unofficial school for many folklore music artists. It is where many of them acquired the talent of playing traditional music instruments with ease and to perfection.While herding cattle and in between rests under the serenading shadows of various trees, many of these artists pass time by learning to play folklore music instruments.

The cattle they herd and the birds on the trees they sought shade under must have provided a listening audience, which could clap and whistle whenever such artists such as Ketlaareng Mogale played.He is a man of many talents who also does landscape drawing, a folklore singer, poet, story teller, fine artist and trophy dealer.

Even though he has these talents, it is folklore music that really captured his heart whilst at the cattle post in Hatsalatladi in the Kweneng region where he learnt how to sing and play a musical instrument called segaba, which makes his heart beam with joy.

His cousin used to play this instrument while they were still herdboys and this somehow appealed to him and he was the one who gave Mogale his stage name, Mathinthinyane.Narrating to BOPA how the name came about, Mogale said he was always active and displayed characters of a warthog, called Mathinthinyane in vernacular.

It was in 2010 that he started playing segaba in public at Area W ward in Francistown and his serenading the cattle and birds was now moved to the public life.He started playing in public as he wanted to share the talent with others and the talented singer plays this instrument at weddings and ceremonial activities.

In 2013, he entered the regional constituency arts competitions and took first position then proceeded to compete at the nationals in Gaborone where he came fifth.“I am going to enter this year’s Arts competition and will make sure that I scoop a better position this time around,’ he said.

He has been practising a lot and is going to apply other techniques that he did not try in the previous competitions and he believes now he has improved.Mogale also showed his exceptional talent during the roving torch visit to the second city of Francistown as he was one of the performing artists.

Even though he enjoys playing segaba and entertaining people, his main worry is that people look down upon folklore instruments, music and even the artists.“I worry when that happens because it is such music and instruments that make us to cherish our culture and not forget it,’ said Mogale with a sad face.Not only does he play segaba but he also designs the instrument and sells to others as he is gifted with using his hands too.

Some of his popular songs are, ‘Borokgwe ja ga Mahomete,’which talks about a man who likes dating many women at the same time then the sad thing about such a man is that he wishes that all these women’s other lovers can die so he can have her all to himself.

The folklore artist’s wish is to form a band with a collaboration of segaba and setinkane and even have a festival where only folklore music is played.He has applied for the Company and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) fund for artists without success because he did not include his business profile but hopes to correct the anomally soon.

Mogale is happy because at the President’s Day Art competitions they have made his love for playing segaba grow and make him popular as he gets many invitations to weddings and ceremonies.His word of advice to those who are interested in folklore music and playing segaba is that they should come to him as he will gladly teach them

Mogale also often attends workshops for capacity building for traditional song and dance in order to share what he has learnt with other Batswana.An artist par excellence, he also designs trophy animals, which he sells to residents of Francistown and hotels. ENDS