Onalenna Modikwa
20 August 2008
Selebi-Phikwe — Artist Benson Ditsheko Lesedi, who recently appeared national television dishing out the late Ratsie Setlhako music from his new album called Masokola, says he will never abandon his new and unique music genre.
This is despite that the beat and lyrics are exactly the same as those of Ratsie Setlhako let alone the title of the album, Masokola.
Lesedi, who is known as Benson Vs Dj in music circles argues that Masokola, which was the name for Ratsie Setlhako's regiment became his main interest because the regiment used to sing those songs and Ratsie's music mostly talked about the regiment.
He further maintained that the lyrics were written by the regiment - and not by any specific individual - and as such he sees nothing wrong singing songs mostly known to belong to the late music legend.
"Nobody talks to me directly about it but they do it in passing. Anybody who approaches me in person will need thorough sensitisation.
In fact I am ready for any challenge, especially from Ratsie Setlhako's great grand children because they have to do something to inherit and benefit from their grand father's hard work. They really have to do something about it."
Lesedi stated that such songs are often played on the national radio station every Sunday, yet the rightful heirs to Setlhako's talent do not reap anything. He added that it is high time the old traditional songs were incorporated and made into the country's trademark.
He expressed concern that veteran musicians have been totally submerged by the new music style. "Let us respect those composers and producers so that they also feel accepted and the contribution recognised."
He expressed concern that the government radio station does not play his music and said what he has learnt is that artists who are not residing in Gaborone or record in "marginalised" studios never see the light of the day.
"It is high time the national radio stations started to play locally produced music only and leave international music to commercial radio stations. Local musicians must also be treated equally because the current trend has demoralised many of them."
Lesedi said he landed in the music industry in 2002 after attending the World AIDS Day Commemorations in the Gaborone Main Mall where poet Moreri Moroka, recited a poem and there was nobody to ululate. He volunteered from the crowd and surprised many as he could do it far much better than women and "many people were impressed".
He said it was then that one poet, Charles More, approached him and requested him to ululate for him whenever he recites poems. As time went on Lesedi said he started writing down poems alongside ululating, but then realised that poets who recited his poems did not express the feelings he had when he wrote the pieces, hence he started reciting for himself.
'I then registered under the business name Mantlwaneng Theatre Magic where we trade through arts. I also played traditional violin."
He said in 2006 he met DJ Cliff and both were struggling to build their own studios and the duo released the album called Matsetsenkane. It is only this year that Benson Vs Dj released his first solo album Masokola from his studio 219 productions. The album has 14 tracks and the title track is Masokola.
He says it is house music that has a combination of traditional violin and poetry in it. "I did this because I realised that Segaba players are not well recognised in the country."
He said that in the tracks, dubbed the 'national anthem', he talked about all the tribes forming the nation of Botswana and combines poems from different tribes.
For tribes that do not have specific poems he said he used anything that is peculiar to that tribe, be it its origin or food.
His said his new style has become the envy of the elderly people who do not follow the newly introduced music styles, which have been met with much appreciation.
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