allAfrica.com: Botswana: 'Listen' And Support Dollie (Page 1 of 1)

Upcoming rhythm and blues (RnB) female musician Dollie Mmereki has pleaded with Batswana to support her as she strives to launch her career.

Dollie, as she prefers to be called, recently released an eight-track RnB album called Listen that contains love songs. She composed all her songs and recorded them at Mexyland in Gaborone.

The Tsabong girl is yet to find some benevolent people or company to take her on board and assist her musically. She has the voice but wants someone who can help sharpen her skills. Born 26 years ago, Dollie says she loved and followed this soothing genre when she was as young as 14. She wrote songs but shelved them. It was only a few years ago after she attended a wedding in Franscistown where gospel singer Tebby performed that she was inspired. "From there I went home and searched for those songs that I shelved and later found a studio to record," reminisces the songsters. She points out that she ran through a number of recording studios but she was not impressed by several things before landing at Mexy Land, a studio owed by DJ Mex. Because she loved it, she never allowed room for failure and happily recalls that everything was smooth during recording. Also, being given an opportunity as a solo vocalist in a church choir in Trinity Church, in Gaborone, during concerts and launches, she has no problem performing before large audiences. A determined Dollie has already taken her music to her home village in Tsabong and Makopong. She says she was impressed by the response she got from the villagers though she is not sure whether they appreciated her simply as a home girl or not. "People seem to like it and hopefully it would do well on the market," said Dollie who is an office administrator at KATZ Holding in Mogoditshane.

She stressed that through her music she wants people to realise that the country has many talented Batswana and it is up to them to support the emerging stars. "So I want to go out there and prove my talent through this album," she vowed. However, she acknowledges the challenges that she is likely to face in her campaign. Most people in Botswana prefer kwasa-kwasa, kwaito and traditional music. Against this backdrop, Dollie says she has a challenge to win many hearts with her type of genre. "You must understand most Batswana are used to listening to RnB recorded by well-established musicians from Europe and America."

But she states that she is determined to take the bull by the horns. She asserts that she would not do other genres simply because "there is someone somewhere who has excelled" in this particular type of music. It is her ambition to change people's mindsets and accept local musicians. Singing RnB is her God-given talent and she would not give up.

"This is my talent and I will nurture it so that it grows," she says. She believes that she has what it takes to rise to stardom.

Meanwhile, Listen contains inspirational songs that lovebirds may enjoy. Talking of tracks like I Love You, Sunshine and Beautiful Kgalagadi, and I Promise, Dollie wanted people to listen to her and get motivated. She said Kgalagadi is a beautiful place that people should get to know about, hence the song Beautiful Kgalagadi.

The album is available at a number of music outlets such as Thebe Records and Kgalagadi Music World at Game City. For bookings and those who want to buy Dollie's music may contact her on 71805352 or her marketing executive Comfort 'Exotic' Ramatebele at 71676282.

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