Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
Gasebalwe Seretse
17 November 2008
One of the greatest events on the performing arts calendar took place last Saturday as poets, singers, word-smiths and lovers of the spoken word converged on Maitisong Hall, Maruapula School, to celebrate the fifth annual Infinite Word Festival.
The event, organised by Exodus Live Poetry, was a sizzler as those who attended were treated to some of the best talents this country has ever produced, as the host of the evening Letsomo-la- Tshipa, rightly pointed out.
Some of the local lasses and lads that performed were Moletlanyi Tshipa, Thembi, Joshua Machao, Kefhentse 'KK' Kefhentse, Tshireletso Motlogelwa, Lesego Nchunga, Kabelo Mereyotlhe, Phenyo Gaotlhobogwe, Andeattah Chuma, Mandisa Mabothoe and Malcolm Champane.
From 'across the border' came Henry 'King Henry' Bowers, Kabomo Vilikazi and Nthabi Mofokeng to spice the unforgettable night.
One of the things worth mentioning about this year's show is the diversity of the artistes that performed.
After a performance by Malcolm, who is a regular featured artist, Moletlanyi Tshipa brought an elderly man on stage and the man gave revellers a taste of traditional praise-poetry. Although the old man was a welcome 'breather' in the festival, which is more often than not hogged by youthful and hippie poets, he nearly spoiled the night by reciting long poems including the one that decorated President Ian Khama as the 'owner of the land.'
Perhaps this was not the right platform to do so because most of the people in attendance were young people with liberal minds and most naturally differed with him. Accompanied by Jah Revelations, Mmegi's news editor, Tshireletso Motlogelwa, performed I Am On Writer's Block before offering his sizzler of the night 109 Ds. The latter was a great departure from the old man's Khama praise poem for it took a swipe at the present government including its leadership.
As always, Andreattah Chuma was in her element as one reveller pointed out 'she never disappoints'.
From the traditional cuisine, Malefho 'Stampore' Mokha was on hand to offer one of the performances that was among the highlights of the evening. Some of the songs that the hugely gifted Stampore sang were Re Batswana and Ha Modimo O Ka Nthusa, which is heavily laced with naughty and suggestive lyrics.
When the guitarist-cum-singer left the stage, he got a standing ovation and he was the only performer to get that honour.
One cannot help wondering when Stampore is going to get the honour and wealth that he deserves as one of the most gifted artistes this country has ever produced.
After recess, the versatile and arguably Botswana's leading traditional dance troupe, Mogwana, took to the stage.
There is no arguing that Mogwana singers and dancers know their job and with them on stage there can never be a dull moment.
The troupe offered different traditional dance-styles catering for people from different ethnic backgrounds. The troupe got a thumbs-up from Chuma who followed them for their Kalanga dance.
Kabomo Vilikazi, who was supposed to perform in set one, got to perform in set two because he was delayed at the airport.
His most engaging offering of the night was the poem Your Poet, which he delivered with gusto.
The talented poet also did a collaboration with the equally gifted Tjawanga 'TJ' Dema. The dread locked Henry Bowers all the way from Uppsala, Sweden, also performed in set two.
The award-winning Bowers is a leading poet in his home country and has performed in a number of other European countries and the United States of America (US). One of the things worth mentioning about his poems is that he takes a comedic approach leaving his audience in stitches.
Bowers said that it was his second visit to Africa, his first having been to the neighbouring South Africa.
From Outrageous Records in South Africa came the pint-sizeD Nthabiseng Mofokeng who has been lauded as 'one of the most recognisable voices in South African hip- hop today.
As they say, dynamite comes in small packages, and Nthabiseng proved the saying to be true. Despite the fact that by the time she performed fatigue had already set in and people were clearly itching to go home, as it was already past midnight, she did not disappoint.
The fifth Annual Infinite Word Festival can be summed up as a beautiful night and the only snag is that the programme was just too long. One can only hope that lovers of the spoken word can support this great effort.
The show was sponsored by, among others, Gaborone Sun, The Voice, Maitisong Theatre, Exclusive Books and Gabz FM.
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