20 Jun 2017

Seven Botswana Defence Force (BDF) choirs tussled to win spectators’ hearts during the annual inter-garrison gospel choir competitions held at the Sir Seretse Khama Barracks (SSKB) on Saturday.

The competition, which had the choirs fighting for the top three spots in two categories; standard song and Lerabi, saw each choir pulling out all stops to give the other competitors a run for their money.

The competition took off with a rendition of the song Motlhang Jesu a tla, which the choirs sang in the standard song category; and each choir that came on stage seemed more determined to outshine the ones before it, each gradually picking the tempo of the competition.

While it was apparent that the adjudicators were going to have a difficult time to decide on which choir to award the honours, the best was yet to come as in the Lerabi category, the competition took a whole new dimension.

The excitement in the audience was palpable, as spectators often drowned out the choirs with their loud cheers, clearly making even tougher the judges task of deciding who the winners would be.

At the end of it all, the Glen Valley Barracks choir, which was code-named Hope of Glory emerged victorious, followed by Village Barracks’ Mission Possessors in second position and Thebephatshwa’s Remain Ahead in third position.

In the Lerabi category, Remain Ahead outshone the rest, settling for first position in the tightly contested category.

Vision Catchers, representing Francistown 2 Military Garrison (2MG), commonly known as the Donga BDF camp took second position while Dream Chasers from SSKB took bronze medals.

The culmination of the activities of the evening saw Remain Ahead sitting at the apex, having been chosen as the overall best.

Vision Catchers and Hope of Glory followed in second and third positions; leaving the rest of the competitors; Mission Possessors, Dream Chasers, Chariots of Fire from the Eastern Military Garrison in Selebi Phikwe and Winning Grace from Francistown’s 1 Military Garrison (1MG) commonly known as Area S camp  licking their wounds.  

Unbeknown to them, the choir conductors were also in a little competition of their own; albeit with only one standing a chance to be awarded for outperforming the rest of the conductors.

In this mini-category Terence Dube of Glen Valley’s Hope of Glory snatched the prize.

Speaking after the awarding of prizes, the guest of honour at the competition Brigadier Lingililani Joseph said given the competition’s role in unearthing and nurturing talent, it is necessary that additional incentives be sought for competitors.

Brig. Joseph further implored the choirs to note that there are no losers in the competition as no one can be labelled a loser when they are praising God.

For his part, Brig. Gilbert Dithupa said the BDF holds the gospel choir competition in high regard as it provides an opportunity to appreciate the way in which mankind communicates with God through music.

He said music brings a lot of difference to people’s lives as it soothes the soul, calms the mind and lifts off depression.   

Underscoring the value of music in life, especially during trying times, Brig. Dithupa said the Bible’ account of King Saul calling on David to play the harp for him is a typical example of what difference music can bring to one’s life. BOPA