22 Jan 2020

Dikhwaere enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice as Itse Mageba Tours in collaboration with Gaborone City Council hosts a charity event dubbed Mmadikhwaere Cultural Music Festival under the theme Monate wa Nkgo ya Ngwao in Gaborone at City River Fun Park on March 28.

The event will feature 10 giants from different parts of the country including True Fighters, SK Seshoboloko, Kgalapitse and Badiragatsi all from Mochudi, Lesedi from Gabane, Megale from Ledumadumane, Dintoroko (DNT) from Metsimotlhabe, Onketsang from Kopong, Union Choir from Ledumadumane and Kgatleng from Mogoditshane as well as acclaimed mother of the dikhwaere Mochudi, who are well known for their rich songs.

The event coordinator, Tebogo Kgaodi said the main idea of the event was to preserve and promote the dikhwaere tradition in Botswana and also revive and give the genre larger exposure to private companies so that they may hire them in their cooperate business events.

“We use traditional events and activities as a unique tool to market and promote Gaborone city and tourism.

And not only for culture preservation, also to donate a percentage of the profits made to one of the identified charity organisations to assist the needy,” he said.

The aim, he added, was to also empower, motivate and encourage traditional choirs so that they can sustain themselves and assist to curtail young people from unwanted behaviour through dikhwaere music.

A representative from Seshobokwe (Super SK Choir), Elizabeth King said they were prepared, through their songs and attire, to showcase to Batswana what Kgatleng District choirs had. “We have experience gained from previous competitions and festivals,” she said.

On the other hand, Lesedi choir representative, Tshupelo Moamogwe said all participating choirs were ready to perform and thus urged Batswana to attend the event.

Moamogwe also said the event would give choirs an opportunity to sell themselves nationwide.

Meanwhile, the event is planned to take place twice a year and another is scheduled for September, where organisers are expected to add fun to the event and include other vibrant traditional activities such as diketo, koi, morabaraba and treat attendants to traditional food.

Dikhwaere form part of culture of Batswana and play a crucial role in their lives.

The word ‘dikhwaere’ is a loan word adopted into Setswana language and it is derived from English word ‘choirs.’ Of late, dikhwaere events have become the most popular form of entertainment during the festive season in Botswana and staged with no intent to make profit.

However, dikhwaere are not only restricted to the festive seasons because they can be staged anytime as the time would permit.

Usually, traditional choirs compose dikhwaere music under certain themes that reflect alertness of the people to conditions and situations that prevail at any point in time within the community, in the nation and even the wider world.

Such theme also points to a level of consciousness with regard to socio-economic and political issues by composers. Expressive choreography is a significant feature of this genre so that the accompanying movement is indicative of the mood of the song.

It may be lively and energetic to show excitement or gently swaying expressing solemnity.

Interestingly, since the introduction of cultural competitions and events, many Batswana have been awake to the fact that dikhwaere can also put bread on the table.

Gone are the days when dikhwaere music was treated as mere form of entertainment without any reward.ENDS