01 Aug 2018

The 2018 edition of Okanyatsa Dikhwaere challenge has grown bigger and better. This year’s edition brought five crowd pullers and giants in Dikhwaere music genre from Kgatleng District being Sedibelo, London, Badiragatsi, Bodiakhudu and Makgatlheng at Dipoaneng lands near Mochudi.

Speaking in an interview the chairperson of Okanyatsa choir also one of the organisers, Mothusi Kgang said the competition had grown since its inception in 2016.

He said they started with only two choirs with the winner getting P1 800 while in the second year there was an improvement as three more choirs Sedibelo, Bodiakhudu and London joined. 

Kgang further highlighted that although they charge P20 entrance fee this had not deterred people from attending in large numbers.

It was clear that all the choirs came prepared to snatch the first prize, but Badiragatsi and Bodiakhudu showed their true intentions as they displayed their acts to thrill the audience.

However, when the competition progressed during the day things changed to a dramatic twist with different choirs putting extra effort.

Makgatlheng choir changed the gear as they increased their pace with impressive songs. London choir clad in African attire and hats upped their game to match the energetic and youthful Badiragatsi who remained unshaken.

The 2016 champions Badiragatsi better known as Marema ka Chaka never looked back as they performed songs like Pina tse ga di a le lekana, Kgale le ipoka and Ga re a tlo ruta khudu which gave them more edge.

Sedibelo choir led by Aron Ogopoleng dressed in dark blue sports t-shirts also made a comeback though it was not enough.

However the defending champions Bodiakhudu failed to leave up to expectation and the colourful Badiragatsi who remained solid throughout the night were crowned winners. They were awarded a floating trophy and P5 000.

The second position went to Sedibelo choir who won P3 500. The remaining choirs Makgatleng, London and Bodiakhudu got P2 500 each.

The competition was sponsored by Lecarena Investments from Gaborone to the tune of P15 000. This was an improvement in prize money from the previous year of P10 000.

Giving a vote of thanks, Member of Parliament for Mochudi East, Moagi Molebatsi reminded the crowd to take the genre to another level as the Dikopelo Folk Music of Bakgatla ba Kgafela was well known to the world and listed by UNESCO.

The event was also attended by Keletso Setlhabi, a senior lecturer from the University of Botswana in the Department of Archaeology who also teaches Culture Heritage.

She said their mandate was to document every event concerning Dikopelo Folk music of Bakgatla ba Kgafela or Dikhwaere so as to make an improvement. Ends