20 Sep 2013

Tshetlha ya Dikgwa is surely a brand to reckon with in as far as Tsutsube is concerned, and the dance has become an ethnic solution one cannot snatch away from this Basarwa ensemble. 

The troupe has its own unique way of indulging the audience in the Sesarwa dance whenever they pounce on stage, a feat that has earned them a throne in the hearts of Tsutsube lovers.  Remember the group that left audiences awestruck and swept trophies under the Tsutsube category last year during the President Day finals?  Aah, yes! That was Tshetlha ya Dikgwa, characterised by their polished and carefully choreographed trances on stage.

“Tau Wee” is the sound you will surely hear when they are about to conquer, and akin to the king of the jungle their conquests have solemnised them as rulers of Tsutsube.  The troupe has taken the Sesarwa rendition to unprecedented levels with the highlight being their enigmatic performance at the 2012 London Olympic Games. That is why everyone was mesmerised last year during their maiden appearance in the President Day finals when they ascended the stage with a simulation of a Thokolosi.

The result of all that was cash in the bank; a P25 000 grand prize.

This year the Kareng troupe brought down the roofs of the Sir Seretse Khama Barracks auditorium with yet another simulation, of a springbok galloping on stage. Existence of this group becomes incomplete without the mention of Segametsi Moxoo who in 2009 conceptualised the idea of forming a Tsutsube group. As the inner voice troubled her to act, Moxoo sold the idea of a Sesarwa dance group with her cousin and ultimately the recruitment process begun as the duo invited their relatives to partner in the mission.

Everyone was excited about the noble idea that would help youngsters express their cultural heritage through dance and at the blink of an eye the then Ditawana group had more than 20 members. Moxoo attributes the success of the group to the youngsters whom she says are always willing to juggle around with ideas and ultimately produce a masterpiece formation which has over the few years superbly defined what they are made of.

The founder says they had to change their name from Ditawana to avoid confusion since there is a Setapa group in Ghanzi which goes by the same name.

“Our names always centre around a lion because it’s an animal we respect and fear very much in our tribe and we relate better with the king of the jungle because we are also feared when we ascend the stage,” she notes. 

The coach states that the prize money they win at competitions has been channeled towards procurement of group attire. Moxoo says she is proud of the youngsters who form part of the group which she says helps keep their Sesarwa culture alive. She further highlights that Tsutsube is not just about stomping on stage but a phase to communicate with their Gods through song and dance.

The cultural dance also portrays Basarwa cultural activities as the dancers dramatise hunting activities and the process of healing a patient. It is even more than that as Moxoo says during a performance the dancers can fall into a trance and start communicating with the Gods in that state. 

There is also a belief that during a Tsutsube dance people with a certain calling will transform into animals like lions and dash to the bush to kill prey while in that state.  The Kareng group will not stop at anything as Moxoo says Tshetlha ya Dikgwa is in a quest for more exposure and says they would love more international challenges to come their way. ENDS