13 Jan 2021

Former Botswana Television (Btv)’s Mokaragana entertainment show presenter, Atamelang Marumolo alias #Mmamongwato, has released her debut jazz album titled Ke sekgantshwane.

In an interview on Monday January 11, #Mmamongwato said the six track album was recorded and produced at Touch Records in Gaborone by Uncle Torch Kgaswane and was released last month.

She said the album was a follow up to the single track; O ntshegatshega o le mang, o kgona jang that she released last August, with the intention to hype her audience for the entire album.

#Mmamongwato said she chose jazz since it resonated peace, adding that ‘2020 was a rough year, as such I felt the need to come up with something to heal and sooth minds, yet entertaining, hence the album’.

She also said jazz was a legendary music genre, that did not easily ‘depreciate’ as such she would not have the pressure to release albums time and again.

She said through the title track Ke sekgantshwane; she intended to give thanks to God and appreciate her own talent, revealing that she had taken a few knocks, from everyday life challenges, but she never lost the direction to her destination.

#Mmamongwato said the response from the public and local radio stations was positive, adding, ‘I am pleased that my album was received well. Most of my fans seem to be glued on track number 3, titled, Ga gona ko ke yang’.

She said the track was a love song that commended couples who stick together despite many challenges they faced.

Although #Mmamongwato is an upcoming artiste, she not new to the entertainment industry, as she tried her luck at My African Dream in 2009, under the senior category, making it to the top six and in 2010, she made it to the top 10 at My Star talent search show.

She said My Star paved the way for her as since then, she never looked back, but engaged in different activities relating to entertainment to sharpen her skills.

She said in 2012, she got an offer as a freelance presenter for Mokaragana and her contract ended early last year.

#Mmamongwato is also a rape activist, motivational speaker and a counsellor and has since established a non-profit foundation named Still Standing, with the intention to voluntarily reach out to rape victims and support them throughout their healing process.

She said in most cases, rape survivors failed to open up because of the negative treatment from the community or close people, who should offer support.

“Some people still ridicule and mock rape victims and even go to an extent of labelling them in a bad way, which makes it difficult for them to open up,” she said.

 #Mmamongwato said during her healing process, she realised that though counselling sessions were offered, it was not enough and sometimes it would be difficult for the survivors to quickly bounce back. ENDS