23 Jun 2013

Not only has the Polka music found a soft spot on President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama who on several occasions would be seen boogying to the tunes.

Barulaganye ‘Tex’ Ramogobya has also ventured into a rather unfamiliar territory just to try to bring the new genre closer “home.”

Polka music, which has been a household name deep in Kgalagadi South has finally been filtered and fused into pure Setswana beats.

The brain child of one of the finest producers who has ushered in some of the country’s gifted traditional music talents in the mould of Otlaadisa Tshipa, popularly known as Deben Natale and Kangangwane Magosha affectionately known as Dr Vom of Tsaya Thobane fame amongst others, Ramogobya of Kalakuta Records has hit the right spot with the genre on a new album dubbed Matsutsuru Polka Band.

The album which has been enjoying massive airplay on Radio Botswana morning show is likely to attract a considerable number of Polka thirsty enthusiasts who could only listen or watch the beats being belted out on national television station during President Day Competitions.

The highly charged youthful producer has been working round the clock to drop a near- platinum or chart topping album by popular demand.

Undoubtedly talented, Tex has music running in the family.

He is the young brother to another reputable producer Eric Ramogobya of the popular Eric Ramco Records.

According to Tex, the response from the public has been impressive after listening to the album on radio and from their popular spot “Ko Setlhareng.com” trading under Kalakuta Records at the Gaborone Main Mall.

The 11-track instrumental album with Ke a sokola, a vocal version of track four is a direct scorn to local security guards lewdly referred to as “bomakatane.” 

Makatane is a Setswana name that is township lingo for a night watchman. 

In the song Ke a sokola the chronically unemployed young man is making a desperate appeal to the employed mass with the usual utmost Setswana song satire “bathung ke a itshotlegela ke batla mosebetsi mme eseng wa go banta jesi……aee ke agana.”

Dry shelter and a decent sleep are considered a luxury to makatane.

Conditions of service in winter are not a feat for the faint hearted.

Other songs which are likely to find charm in Polka music fans are Oms gaan Kanana (lets go to Canaan), Letlhafula, Buru dance and Ke ba bone maabane.

Polka traces its roots from deep Central Europe and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout the Americas and Africa.

It was first discovered in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia.

It is supposed that its characteristic sounds and beats were taken from easily audible noises naturally occurring in a peasant farm and it comes as no surprise that locally the Polka is popular in Kgalagadi district which is made up of farms. ENDS