18 May 2017

United States of America Airforce Band (Europe and Africa) in collaboration with Botswana Defence Force Band this week treated schools around Chobe to a medley of live performances.

USA airforce band vocalist, Jill Marie -Diem said the performances were part of a culture and skills sharing initiative between the two countries as well as sharing techniques in live performances.

“We learnt techniques in improvisation and rehearsals from each other as well as learning songs from each other’s countries,” she added.

Collaboration between the two bands is expected to continue in future as another USA band is expected to visit Botswana before year ends.

While in Kachikau Primary School, the band donated educational materials, clothing and toiletries to the school’s special needs unit which comprises of 30 students with various forms of disability.

BDF band manager, Lieutenant Colonel Philip Modise said music could be therapeutic and soothing to children with special needs as well as a tool for learning.

“This was also an opportunity for us to take our band to the communities and enhance our visibility as an institution,” he said.

The bands played favourite American hits such as Sweet Home Alabama and Can’t stop the feeling by Justin Timberlake.

Despite the fact that primary school children could not sing along to the hits, they displayed enthusiasm throughout the performance.

Over the past weekend, both bands held a workshop for musicians from the community to share skills. ENDS