18 Mar 2019

Being a music manager and a great one at that requires drive, determination and a passion for music all round.

KTM manager, Hope Moumakwa reiterated in an interview that being a good music manager needs someone who is  organised, excellent with people and had a good understanding of the industry as it changes with time.

He said his basic role as a choir manager was to bring together the people and projects, which meet the choir’s goals.  

“A goal could be anything from upholding consistency in singing to delivering the perfect Setswana rhythmic hymns,” he said.

As a manager, he said all comes down to him to ensure that all processes and procedures within the choir management run smoothly, rehearsals were done on time and to ensure that the ensemble was ready for stage.

Having cut his teeth in managing KTM in 2013/2014, the 34-year-old Moumakwa indicated that it had not been an easy task as he manages 78 singing members and 38 non-singing members.

As the youngest manager of the highly celebrated choral choir, he said he was thrown into the deep end as he took the reins at a time when one of the choir’s founders, Gomolemo Motswaledi became actively involved in politics.

Moumakwa stated that he received a great deal of wisdom and guidance from the late music genius in Motswaledi.

With a large choir like KTM, he stated that they had some members who stayed outside Gaborone adding that oftentimes they send them music to study to ensure that they were on the same par with their colleagues.  

Also, he said for the past two years, the choir had been working with an Alumni, although not structured.

Moumakwa emphasised that rehearsals were the yardstick of the choir adding that discipline was key to KTM.

He expressed concern about the young generation, saying they lacked discipline, which was their main challenge.

He said dealing with different characters and organisations, all with their own pressures was challenging.

“A choir as big as KTM will always have individuals obsessing about their talents and strengths as singers, but it is very critical for a manager to remain focused on the bigger picture and end goal,” he said.

“For KTM, it is about the ideals of the choir. KTM is still upholding the ideals of its foundation, despite the challenges of modern day,” he said.

He said KTM’s goal had always been to promote Setswana music in Botswana in all ethnic languages that make Botswana, to grow youth talent through Setswana culture, to portray high discipline as well as to change the landscape of choral music in Botswana.

However, he stated that they were now faced with youth whose discipline was very much compromised and not only in the choral music but even outside the entertainment sector.

Nonetheless, he stated that KTM still aims to  uphold the ideals that built the choir and would enforce discipline, especially among the youth.

Moumakwa said they also were a versatile choir, which was open to new trends.

He revealed that they still had local composers’ show, where they promote local music in all Setswana languages.

“They have also showcased a setinkane piece instead of a violin and the musical piece came out well,” he said.

Also, he as a choir they had succeeded in orchestrating a Tswana musical.

He highlighted that the choir always stressed the importance of singers’ spreading their wings to realise their talents outside KTM.

One notable artiste to come out of KTM, he said was Lizibo and others.

“We believe one cannot shy away from their talent and we encourage them to be aggressively  develop their talent,” he said.

He said they also run courses for their singers; which assist them on various genres as well as on voice rehearsals and reading music.

As a family man, Moumakwa said time management was very critical to him because he had to balance his time between his family and the choir.

He said his wife was also a singer at St Andrew’s Catholic Church in Oodi, where they worship adding that her  support comes naturally as she was conversant with the pressure that comes with it all.

But, Moumakwa, stated that he had an exclusive day solely dedicated to his wife.

Nevertheless, he said he was grateful to the predecessors at KTM for guiding him and others to enable them to steer the choir that is dear to many Batswana on the right path. ENDS