25 Sep 2022

Milidzo ye Bakalanga Choir might be the new  in the industry but their enthusiasm demonstrates that they have the potential to be a game changer given their choice to perform songs in Kalanga.

They proved their versatility over the weekend by staging the first ever Kalanga choral show which featured the Ikalanga jazz maestro Ndingo Johwa and the talented afro-pop artist known for his romantic Kalanga songs Lizibo.

The choral giants KTM Choir also made an appearance and performed their songs in Kalanga.

Milidzo ye Bakalanga project manager Michael Modise said in an interview that the idea was to encourage the use of different indigenous languages in order to develop creativity among artists as well as unity and tranquillity that had prevailed in the country over the years.

“This is also to be in alignment with the President’s roadmap for the need to expose arts and different cultural forms to the international market and for economic diversification,” he said. Modise further said the project was also a way to honour the late Gobe Matenge who had persuaded the reality of the Milidzo ye Bakalanga concept for leisure and learning purposes.

He noted that the formation of the group was also to alleviate unemployment challenges that the youth faced by encouraging them to put their talents to good use.

“This group is made up of 60 youth members, some are graduates and others have dropped out of school. The goal is to keep them busy and give them something to look up through some of the profits generated by supporting them,” he explained.

Modise stated that the Milidzo ye Bakalanga group has performed 21 Kalanga choral songs masterminded by the late Joseph Dupute and Joseph Moswela, the local pioneers of choral music. 

All the songs have been approved for performance at music competitions and schools.

He further said the Milidzo ya Bakalanga concert would be staged in other parts of the country citing that the next performance was scheduled early next year in Francistown to inspire other singers to do the same with their languages. Despite the fact that it was their first time performing on stage in front of a large crowd, the new group Milidzo ye Bakalanga did not disappoint.

The first session featured Milidzo ye Bakalanga and KTM choir.

Spectators were left in awe when the group performed the song Unozwiziba kene which encourages individuals to know of their roots of origins and be proud of them. The group further showcased the hosanna dance that forms part of Kalanga culture.

KTM choir also did what they are best known for when they performed Gurunjiba wee and Mo ntobele. The last session of the show had attendants dancing and singing along to the tunes of maestro Ndingo Johwa, the 72-year-old whose performance reminded many of their yester years.

The pint-sized talented Lizibo stole the moment of the show by singing You raise me up in Kalanga, a song by the international group Westlife. He managed well the beats and pace of the song to the applause from the audience. Ends