25 Aug 2026

The Saturday Ballads collective DJs gave the audience an uplifting show perfect for summer at Avani Gaborone Casino and Resort gardens on Saturday.

With consistent impressive audience, the gathering provided a relaxed outdoor atmosphere with camp chairs, scenic view, friendly mature energy and a fun dress code of denim and white. The diverse crowd responded to the various DJs’ sets with the same density, creating emotional connection through interlocking features, expressive vocal delivery, call and response interaction and harmonic richness of the soul ballads served on the day.

Dedicated to soul showmanship, the DJs authenticity shone through, with over-the-top gestures and hand motions that got the audience to drop their inhibitions and flood the dance floor. Holding it down to some sing along soul rhythm and blues were Resego Motlhokathari and Dj JazzzyPete, with Dj JazzyPete spicing a little with some old funk genre.

However, it was not long before Charles Matlou, Dj Kgantsho and Koki Molf reminded the crowd of a journey of soul sounds with some generation formative sounds of the 80s, leaving the stage with the audience baying for more of their soulful sets.

Interestingly, Koki Molf played afro soul in his set, something unusual for the soul ballads as the genre is often linked to European or American soul sounds.

“We have our own soul music that speaks about love. We have those artists that really can make our ballads, so what I normally do is that from playing all the European songs, I will translate to Africans,” Koki Molf said in an interview following his set.

Known for their slow tempo vibes, however Koki Molf also transitioned to a fast tempo in his set which the crowd embraced, reminiscing the yester years.

“As Africans, we are used to beat, we are used to dancing. That is why normally when I play, I will end up with an up-tempo to make people dance, and for us to have meaning with our own songs,” he said.

Koi Molf said the soul crowd in Botswana was ‘coming through and developing quite nicely. I am happy with it as compared to the first time I came here.’ He suggested inter-country events to further build on the sustainability of the music events and also to have it blended.

Closing the show, was the duo of Dj Obza and Dj Lawry-T who are seen as pioneers of the soul genre particularly on radio; and Dj Obza continues to give his listeners a frantic programmed moment on radio. The duo essentially continued the story of African soul ballads. The two effortlessly delivered a faultless, solid undeniable power set with every bit as impressive as soul’s finesse, ensuring the crowd sing every lyric of the song and ending the show on a euphoric high. ENDS