Mogomotsi Moloi
9 April 2008
Gaborone — It is not every song that musicians compose that become instant hits and it is not everyone who bursts to fame immediately through his or her first piece of work.
When Moses Malapela, otherwise known as Shumba Ratshega, composed and recorded a six-track album called Masiela a few years ago, no one recognised him. Even today many people still do not know that the popular Makhirikhiri is his second album. Like other upcoming artistes, who beg for performance time before giants invade the stage, Shumba Ratshega used to be a puppet for Dikakapa, a well-established local male-dominated traditional group. No wonder he is so muscular, he is a Dikakapa protege.
This happened five years ago after he relocated from his home village, Bobonong, to the capital city, Gaborone. This was mainly to make life in 'Gabs' as many youth do when things are tough at their respective villages.
He tells Showbiz that his debut album was a complete flop - and he knows why. In fact he never put his mind into it fully because he used it as a ticket to enter youth rallies by the Department of Culture and Youth. At that time he was also still too young and immature to understand the tricks of the trade.
Establishing himself as a musician was not easy. "I used to perform at Dikakapa shows and I travelled with them wherever they went but it was not appealing to me. I really appreciate their efforts in helping me and I am proud of them," says the 25-year-old. However, this was a steppingstone to success for this young man. Through the Makhirikhiri album, he won the 2007 Mascom Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) Best Traditional Music Group award. Many had thought that he would bag the Song of the Year award as well but that was taken by jazz maestro Lister Boleseng through his hit, O Tlhokana Le Nna.
Shumba Ratshega points out that losing the award to veteran Lister Boleseng was no big deal because he knew he was still a learner. But just being nominated for the award was a fantastic morale-booster on its own. His music was widely played during the last Christmas holidays.
"I never told Dikakapa that I was working on an album (Makhirikhiri). They only knew of it when I finally presented it to them," he says. After the album, he made his brand by appearing on stage in Tshega, an old type of traditional attire local men used to wear.
He explains that Tshega made him popular and he wanted to be unique. He further points out that he wears Tshega to remind Batswana of their dying culture. While he has his Tshega on, he carries a catapult, seragantshwane, in Setswana, around his neck. This concept is really working for him. He says Batswana have abandoned their culture therefore it is through theca and seragantshwane that he wants to remind them of their traditional attire.
He believes that through these, people are able to differentiate him from his counterparts in the industry. He reveals that he managed to get tenders from under the noses of established groups because customers appreciate his style and the way he presents his kind of music. Ratshega performed at the fourth President Ian Khama's inauguration, a historical event that many would have loved to be part of. This was an honour for Shumba Ratshega, who was partnered with another traditional musician, Topito.
He says there are not many who could get this opportunity and it made him proud after he performed at Government Enclave on April 1. He discloses that the call to perform during the inauguration was not by miracle or favours. Several groups were, prior to that, given a task to compose a song about President Khama and he won the test.
Shuma Ratshega, whose DVD will soon be out, says that his singing talent is so enormous that he could compose a song for any event he is invited to. He is like a poet who just stands up during an occasion and recites a poem about anything.
He says he was born a singer. He inherited it from his mother Mmakwante, who is a favourite during Dikhwaere competitions.
This average height naturally strong man cut his teeth in traditional music while he was a member of Re Tlare Ke Dipitse during his childhood.
This was a group in Bobonong that performed during Kgotla meetings. He quit the group and formed Motswedi Wa Setso. As he realised that things were not falling into place in Bobonong, so he relocated to metropolitan Gaborone where he is now raking in big bucks. He says he is surprised that since the 10-track Makhirikhiri project hit the airwaves, some musicians who used to be his friends are now his enemies. They do not even talk to him. "I do not know whether they are jealous of me or what. Though it is their right to talk to anyone, I believe it is not right to be rivals while we are in the same industry. We fish from the same pond so we should be helping one another and discussing issues that affect us," pleads the traditional musician. When he joined the fray he was likened to former Dikakapa member, Gong Master, because their voices are identical. But Shumba Ratshega insists that their voices are dissimilar. It is those who know the art of singing that can differentiate his voice from that of Gong Master, he says.
Shuma Ratshega says Bobonong people are very proud of him. He says he has put the village on the map and vows that he will try hard to maintain his outstanding work rate in traditional music.
Just like Culture Spears, whose music is taking South Africa by storm, Shumba Ratshega's songs are played internationally. He struck a deal with a certain company in South Africa to compose a song on the coming 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer piece. "I have grown as an artiste and I believe I will grow even bigger, thanks to the support I get from Batswana," he says. Shumba Ratshega is the third born in a family of six. Save for one, all his seven back-up singers are dancers from Bobonong.
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