17 Feb 2025

 In a world where music is often reduced to commercial success and fleeting trends, there is a singer by the name, Rose-Marie Baloyi affectionately known on stage as Rose-Marie, whose voice carries the weight of stories, emotions, and divine purpose.

For the past 17 years, she has been a professional singer but in truth, music has been woven into the fabric of her being since birth. Her journey began in a home filled with song.

Her father, a man of deep musical appreciation, would often serenade her and her younger brother in French, while her mother her greatest inspiration, filled their home with the timeless voices of Celine Dion, Sadé, Lionel Richie and Michael Bolton.

Even as a baby, Rose-Marie absorbed each note and melody, creating memories so vivid that she and her mother would later reminisce about them before her passing three years ago.

“At just 13 years old, I stepped onto the stage for the first time and shared my gift with the world. My song, You Are My King, was written by my older brother, Joseph Dipatane, who is an avid gospel singer but is yet to share his own music with the world. That moment accompanied by live instruments and a congregation moved to tears marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to music,” says Rose-Marie.

She refuses to be confined to a single musical style. From the grand compositions of Tchaikovsky to the worshipful anthems of Hillsong and Ntokozo Mbambo, from the storytelling genius of Phil Collins to the smooth, sultry tones of Sadé and ATI, her influences span across genres. She embraces them all, calling herself a genre-fluid vocalist.

“I do not chase popularity because music is my peace, my therapy, my happy place and perhaps that is what makes my voice so powerful, it is not driven by the need for recognition but by an unshakable connection to the emotions it carries,” she says.

Every sound must move her before it can move anyone else. If a song does not bring her to the verge of tears or awaken a cherished memory, she cannot create it. This deeply personal approach to music led her to one of her most beloved 2019 creations, Ee Oa Nthata, a song born from heartbreak and divine revelation.

“I write best when I am heartbroken. Maybe it is because God humbles our spirit so He can speak through us. “Ee Oa Nthata” was his way of reminding me of his love,” she shares.

Rose-Marie says she is grateful for having performed for four of Botswana’s former presidents namely Sir Ketumile Masire, Mr Festus Mogae, Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama and Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, however, Rose-Marie’s most treasured moments remain those spent singing in church.

“Nothing beats the feeling of connecting with God in song,” she says.

Like any artist, her career had its own fair share of challenges. As her own manager, she juggles the demands of maintaining her brand, finances, and personal life. Staying relevant in the industry requires constant effort, even for an artist who does not seek fame. Yet, she has been quietly building her foundation earning a degree. ENDS