The World Meets Botswana, Prague Recieves Basketmouth
It was a musical journey of Botswana traditional folk music with our very own personal tour guide, Gerald Boiyt Shepo, a tswana student studying here in Prague, Czech Republic. Whoelse better than a native of Botswana to help us with the tongue twisting names and words.
We kicked-off the show with two songs from Matsieng, Mpheregetlhe and Ga Ke Mmolai. Matsieng are a three man Setswana traditional band that established themselves in 2005 with their festival season album, Semakalenga. And as Gerald soon explained, it is songs like these that make Botswana folk music and integral part of Tswana culture. With a storyline often addressing social moral issues backed by heavy string instruments like the Gumba Gumba, Folk music still enjoys radio play in Botswana.
Botswana Rapper, Zeus has mastered his talent since he came on the scene in 2008 commanding attention through his debut album Freshly Baked. Currently he is enjoying publicity through his recent releases like Imagination featuring Stagga and has craked the Southern Africa music market by featuring on Zambia‘s General Ozzy’s 2012 release No Way. Zeus is also championing the growth of Botswana music via his own record label and events management company, D.I.Y Entertainment.
Gerald enlightened us on the fact that Tswanas are party people and are still addicted to Kwasa Kwasa music which has a simple but unique leg dance routine. Gerald confirmed that songs like Koko by Wizards Of The Desert are on heavy rotation in clubs.
Kwasa Kwasa originally from Rhumba music from Central Africa but has since evolved with many attempts to fuse it with other music genres. Vee in his song Sanola skillfully and successfully combined his kwaito style and Kwasa Kwasa flavour creating a mouth watering classic.
We closed the show with Naija songs like Oyato by D’banj as Prague prepares for the historical live stage performance by The African King Of Comedy, Basketmouth. The gifted and internationally recognised entertainer is scheduled to perform in Palanca Salsa Club on the 19th of August.
Relive all Friday Ripple moments by visiting our Jukebox.
Playlist:
Matsieng – Mpheregetlhe [Eric Ramco Records] (Botswana)
Matsieng – Ga Ke Mmolai [Eric Ramco Records] (Botswana)
Wizards Of the Desert – Koko [Self-Released] (Botswana)
Matsieng – Joko (Nna Wena) [Eric Ramco Records] (Botswana)
Matsieng – Ke Feta Ke Bolela [Eric Ramco Records] (Botswana)
Matsieng – Mmankoko [Eric Ramco Records] (Botswana)
Zeus feat Stagger – Imagination [D.I.Y Ent] (Botswana)
General Ozzy feat Zeus – No Way [Blazer Studios](Zambia/Bostwana)
Dramaboi – Godzilla [Deep Zone Ent] (Botswana)
KEB – Botsa Ka Nna [Marked Men Ent] (Botswana)
Naeto C – I Gentle [Cerious Music Storm Affiliated] (Nigeria)
DJ Ski – Moruti Madimabe Brandos Jerry Curl Mix [Loas World Records] (Botswana)
ATI – Catch Me IF You Can [Self-Release] (Botswana)
D’banj & Sarkodie – Come To Me [DMK Records] (Nigeria/Ghana)
Culture Spears – Khudu [Self-Release] (Botswna)
D’banj – Oyato [G.O.O.D Ent] (Nigeria)
Iyanya – Kukere [Iyanya Music] (Nigeria)
Teddy Ziggy feat Terry G – Sailelotor [Ziggybag Ent] (Nigeria/Czech Republic)
