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Botswana: Musicians Commercialise Dikhwaere
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
COLUMN
16 April 2008
Posted to the web 16 April 2008
Mogomotsi Moloi
Dikhwaere may be the oldest form of music but it is seemingly catching up on the local scene though this time it is done with a mixture of instrumentals.
It used to be a tradition that the music is sang during Christmas holidays or wedding ceremonies. But a number of local musicians are currently trying hard to revive the music, which is common in the rural areas, by commercialising it.
To mention a few, Kangangwani 'Dr Vom' Mogocha set the fire burning late last year with his album Dr Vom vs Diparo, which was dedicated to the senior national soccer team, Zebras. Just recently a four-member group from Selebi-Phikwe, Dijammogo, unleashed another thrilling eight-track album, Monono, of the same genre Now, traditional music kingpins Gong Master and Ditiro 'DT' Leero have collaborated to release another Dikhwaere album they call Makanyane. All the mentioned projects have undoubtedly put the Dikwaere music in fashion.
Focusing on Makanyane, the album proves the potentiality and creativity of Gong Master and Leero, who happen to be cousins from Ranaka. The towering Gong Master is a former Dikakapa lead singer while DT started his career with the late disco singer Bashi 'Lebasho' Lebatlamang, Machesa and jumped to Matsieng before disbanding to focus on his solo projects.
The cousins say that they had long yeaned for this collaboration and are happy to merge. However, they would collaborate only when doing Dikhwaere projects and stand as solo artistes. They are known for top voices whenever singing in a group.
As if they are saying, in their album, "we are gone and you will miss us," the duo pour out their sorrows and frustrations about their past sad experiences. Both of them left their previous groups under controversial circumstances. The first two songs provide a perspective of what has transpired in the past and where they are heading.
In one of the songs the vociferous Gong Master sings; Bana ba kgori ba bitsana ka melodi, Mmadikgaba o tla itshupa." And continues, "Moroto wa o esi gao ele, ntshware ka letsogo re tsamae." In other words, they want to explain that they have the same singing talents and anyone exhibiting jealousy would show up.
The album is packed with rich indigenous proverbs and the duo tell the listeners where they come from musically. The pair told Showbiz that though they might be busy with other things, they would not forget their roots. They say they have realised that Dikhwaere were dying hence their aim to re-popularise it.
"Now it is time to sing," says Gong Master. He points out that the Dikhwaere project does not mean that they have dumped traditional music. He believes that the two genres are similar and are the two original music types that Batswana should seriously embrace.
Gong Master, (34), says that through Makanyane they want Batswana to rediscover themselves. "You have to sit down and listen to it. Everything we sing about is reality," he asserts. He points out that this is another year and his collaboration with DT marks yet another milestone in their careers.
DT, who has featured in Dr Vom's Tsaya Thobane, revealed his collaboration with his cousin has been long over due. "We could have long introduced something like this (Makanyane) but we were held up by other commitments," said DT, adding that it was easy writing the songs because Dikhwaere is in their blood. He said that if anyone feels intimidated by different messages in the album, he or she should pardon them because it was not meant to rebuke anyone.
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He argues that by mentioning their previous groups in the song Matlapa was to acknowledge where they came from. "It is not that we are bitter against anybody," he said in an interview yesterday. He conceded that different people have different views and are bound to contradict.The pint sized talented DT, also known in the industry as Molemo wa Kgang, said they want to prove that they have talent and are capable. DT and Gong Master are in the same choir at home. DT advised other musicians to record what they know best for their music to be appreciated by many. Other tracks in the album are Socialize, Ditshoswane, Khalelani and Dingaka. It was recorded at Daggie Digital Studios (DDS). It targets a wide market and is set to take the industry by storm.
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