26 Feb 2017

Maun based iconic musical legend, Monaga Molefi popularly known as Stiga Sola in the entertainment arena says the President’s Day competition has contributed to the growth of the music industry in the country.

Speaking in interview, Stiga said the competitions had unearthed music talents in many parts of the country and upcoming artistes are doing well.

The Shorobe-born musical legend says his rise in the music industry since the 1970s when he started his career has been an uphill battle, but with the coming to the scene of the President’s Day competition, his life changed for good. He scooped first position for two consecutive years, venturing in the category of traditional instruments section with setinkane.

Stiga says the competitions allowed upcoming artistes to showcase their artistic skills and improve them, noting that since venturing into the traditional instrument under Setinkane category, his guitarist skills had improved, leading to him being awarded a tender to promote Botswana’s cultural tourism in Germany during the official opening of Botswana Diplomatic Embassy in Munich in 2016 , as well as being honoured to train children on how to play traditional instruments at Khwatta San Culture and Education Centre in 2012, the programme that is supported by The Ubuthu Foundation, provincial government of Western Cape and National Heritage Council in South Africa.

Stiga says he was able to purchase musical instruments like Keyboard , Mixer , Amplifier and Guitar after winning the regional presidential competition in the previous years, and he was also able to take his children to school as well as venture into small stock farming

He encouraged the new generation keen to venture into music industry to take part in the President’s Day competitions to showcase their artistic talents and to promote themselves.

He further encouraged the upcoming artistes to learn and benchmark from the seasoned artistes and take music as a business to invest in. He said upcoming artistes should take time to improve their recordings and always be vigilant and have hope as the music world is not a smooth sailing.

He also said the Department of Arts and Culture should take competitions to the Remote Area Dwellers settlements to explore raw talents, like the recent Okavango Delta Expedition.

Stiga says there is no progress in the music industry because of piracy and pleaded with the public to stop supporting piracy.

He says he recently participated in the BOT50 celebrations and Poetavango Cultural Day, adding that he is currently working on a brand new eight-track album  entitled Tsitsino, which is to be released in April.

The album, which has tracks like Driver and Monnaahondo is recorded and mastered at Keal Entertainment Studio in Maun.

Meanwhile, this year’s President’s Day competitions registration has commenced on February 1 and will February 28). ENDS