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12 Mar 2023

 Chances are you have heard the song ko Seronga, on the airwaves, social media platforms or from that vendor who sells CDs on the street and the chorus is probably stuck in your memory.

You have labelled it your song, even inserted yourself beside Mompati, Duda and Punu because your imaginative self feels an intrinsic connection to this fascinating folk ballad.

The intro goes, “na re godile re domina dithapi (ko Seronga), ke na le mshwaneame Mompati re tswa ko Dungu a belegile Duda ke belegile Punu’’ honestly who wouldn’t tag along.

 This merriment tune is colossal in Thato Kavinja aka Koolkat Motyiko’s music career being the one that ushered him into the hearts of many Batswana.

 Ko Seronga became an instant hit here at home and even beyond Botswana borders when it dropped in 2021.

Yes, beyond borders, that “Wayeyi iyele” sultry, spellbinding voice in the opening scene of Nkashi: Race for Okavango film is none other than Mr Seronga himself.

BOPA caught up Koolkat Motyiko’s upon his return from Washington DC where he attended the National Geographic Story Tellers Summit 2023 in February for a chat on his journey as a Nature Environment Wildlife Filmmakers (NEWF) Fellow and composing music scores for the Nkashi film.

The Seronga-born reminisces that it all started in Seronga last year at the Nkashi Classic race where he met National Geographic Explorer Thalefang Charles and National Geographic Impact story lab filmmaker Dustin Sylvia who asked for his CD and subsequently attended his music show that night.

He says they reached an agreement for him to compose six tracks for the film with Mikael Rosen and the NEWF Composers Lab.

Koolkat highlights that it was an honour to feature on a film that told the story of the Okavango Delta, having been raised in Seronga by his grandmother and the people who call it home.

“I never imagined that my voice will one day feature on a film that was on a global space, more especially that I grew up in the Okavango Delta and I can relate with the film on many levels,” he says.

He expressed gratitude to National Geographic for inviting him to the Story Tellers Summit as a composer of the scores in the film, a lifetime opportunity he treasures.

He highlights that the fellows were tasked to bring an instrument from their respective countries to show the unique music of every African country, noting that he took matlhoa as percussion.

“We have our own unique and original sound as Botswana and we need to infuse our own traditional instruments when we tell a Botswana story through our music.

Living true to his words, Koolkat carries an authentic penchant for Wayeyi culture which makes his craft distinctive with an instant recognizable beat and lyrics.

Whenever he goes on stage, everyone leaves their seat and prime up to belt out Shiyeyi nuances in one accord because that is how impactful he is.

He shared that when he performed one of his popular songs Willie Makhandane at Seronga last year, everyone was on stage with him singing word for word and asked for an encore four times.

The singer and songwriter explains that his latest album Sedimo is a tribute to returning to one’s roots, a place they call home, contrary to perceptions by many that it is about ancestral worship.

“… It relays a story about a man who left his village and moved to the city and forgot his roots,” he explains.

Koolkat says he is grateful to all artists who have worked with him in his projects: Stiga Sola, Tautona, Bishop BW (Myeyes), Sheheya, Motlha, Rita Christopher, Mbuku Drums & DJ Famous, Godwill Taboka Jazzman Bogosi Prince B Tshekiso. Ends