Ephraim Keoreng
20 November 2008
Tselakgopo traditional, comprising two Ramotswa young women, have released their third album.
The duo, who once dominated the music scene after they were not nominated and later scooped the best new-coming group at Botswana Musicians' Union (BOMU) annual awards two years ago, look promising with their latest album. Titled Konkobi, the album gives you a strictly traditional musical taste.
Unlike other traditional musicians, who have now grown fond of throwing in a few songs of Dikhwaere, Tselakgopo has decided to stick to their core business -traditional. The eight-track offering was produced by one of Botswana's ablest producers, especially in the traditional genre, Lame Letlaatla, whilst the programming was done by popular programmer Tumela Mafoko at Diamond Studios in Gaborone. The sleeve design was done by JJ Graphix. The album is laid-back and gives you the music that will help you relax as you let it soak through your soul.
Manchadi, the first track, talks about issues of sexual immorality and the breakdown of the marriage institution as couples continue to pursue selfish interest at the expense of their spouses. It is now a usual story that takes place all over. Divorce cases and domestic violence cases are on the increase as a result of this moral decay.
The second track, Konkobi, is a song that celebrates happiness. The singers here address girls saying that life with its good offerings presents its challenges, especially for them (girls). Some men presenting themselves to be suitors, they should be careful, as they could turn out to be sex pests who just want to use them and drop them.
Most of the tracks, when listened to the rest of the album, are advises packaged in song, to counsel the girl child on how to live a life free of the common stressful situations they might encounter. Why the girl-child only, one may wonder? But perhaps the answer lies in the fact that the duo of Tselakgopo are women. Poifo Motladiile says that from their viewpoint "the girl child is the one who, in most cases, finds herself living a life with a lot of challenges.
Perhaps this is due to the patriarchal system under which men feel they have much power even over their women, whom they feel they are licensed to abuse at will. We are not being political here, but are just trying to offer advice to the girl-child," she said.
Some of the songs worth listening to are Loseanyana, Banyana, and Pelo Molotsana. To join this rich traditional offering get your copy of Konkobi at the nearest music shop.
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