11 Jul 2018

In their quest to grow the traditional music industry in Botswana, Katsojane Cultural Group have released an album titled Bakgalajwe. 

The youthful group, which is made of eight members; namely Lawrence Raditau, Mmoloki Ramaeba, Christopher Tshegofatso, Phanuel Masenkane, Mompoloki Kgomo and Amantle Ogopotse produced their album at Mooki Studio in Mogoditshane.

The maiden album comprises of six tracks including Bakgalajwe, Ntswaele, Pula, Bana ba batho, Tau and Wa jelwa.

“Our hit track Bakgalajwe is dedicated to heroes and heroines of Botswana who made sacrifices to grow and positively contribute to building the peaceful Botswana that we all enjoy today,” Raditau said.

The group said Batswana should be proud of their culture, with Mr Raditau saying it is through their music that they celebrate their culture and traditions.

In an interview, the group members whose age range from 21-27 years, said they opted for traditional music as it formed  part of culture and could help spread valuable, insightful and meaningful messages across all generations.

Katsojane Cultural group, whose album was released in May 2018, said they had been performing at social and corporate events and this aided them to penetrate the market. 

They shared that their greatest desire was to team up with other artistes and even collaborate, engage with various stakeholders to grow traditional music and talent in Botswana and even spread their wings across the African continent.

They further explained that some of their songs spoke out against social ills such as crime, drugs and alcohol abuse, which had deprived Botswana of leaders and were ravaging the young generation.

The group, which was formed in 2016, said they had received positive feedback from the public and the support was very encouraging.

Although they were faced with numerous challenges, such as funding and securing a full time manager, the group leader said passion and perseverance powered them not to give up.

They urged other young people not to give up on their dreams and protect them at all cost, adding that with the challenge of unemployment, the youth should find meaningful and positive ways of sustaining themselves such as using their God given talents. ENDS