16 May 2016

The race for President’s Day competitions Dikhwaere championship started in Bobonong on Saturday where five dikhwaere were competing in sub regional President’s Day Competition to book themselves a place at regional level.

The tight competition started at a high note with Mmadinare Shining Stars choir being first on stage where they performed to their level best.

Bana ba Nare from Bobonong followed setting the stage ablaze with their rich dikhwaere melody, dace moves and beautiful uniform.

The fearless and popular Bobonong choir Dialogane was the third on stage to do what they know best leaving spectator speechless after their wonderful performance.

The competition became hot when Molabe choir from Tobane followed and outclassed the previous performances from choirs who went on stage before them.

After Molabe’s performance, spectators did not believe what they saw with everyone saying that the choir of the day showed itself.

The last choir to perform was Borotsi–Lepokole choir which failed to impress the spectators and they also looked to be demoralised by the previous performances of choirs which went on stage before them.

It was clear to judge that Borotsi-Lepokole choir which is formed by youth from Borotsi ward in Bobonong and youth from Lepokole village would take the last position as they failed to impress.

The competition ended with the spectators able to judge for themselves the choir of the day and which would take the last position while it was difficult to predict the second, third and fourth positions.

The chief adjudicator of the day, Tshepho Tsela told the choirs and the spectators which were waiting in vain to hear the results that they were judging based on 100 per cent adjudication sheet and they were deducting marks from any mistakes that the choir was doing on stage.

He said they were judging voices, phrasing and transition of the song, dances and mood on stage, staging and their originality.

Tsela urged choirs to know originality of the dikhwaere and work on their staging so that they could put out a sterling performance. He praised all choirs for composing good original songs which were rich in messages.

Molabe choir scoped position one, Shining Stars took position two, Dialogane position three, while position four went to Bana ba Nare and on the fifth position was Borotsi–Lepokole choir.

Position one to four qualified for President’s Day regional competitions that would be held in Selibe Phikwe and at the regional only two choirs would proceed to the final President’s Day competitions in Gaborone.

The programmes officer in the Department of Arts and Culture in Bobonong, Jane Chuma said the competitions went well even though the spectators did not come in large numbers.

She said misunderstanding of rules and regulations of the President’s Day competitions and those of constituency competitions was a concern.

Chuma said the rules and regulations of the two competitions were not the same, citing that in constituency competitions dikhwaere were given a minimum of 15 members and maximum of 25 while in President’s Day competitions they were allowed a minimum of 25 members and maximum of 35.

She appealed to groups to visit their offices anytime to enquire about rules and regulations of competitions so that competitions could be free and fair to every group. ENDS