Volume 51 Issue 5 - May 2013 : Entertainment

Article: Baleseng Batlotleng

Photos: Courtesy of John Bokete

A simple YouTube video clip started the ball rolling. David Kramer, a South African singer, songwriter, playwright and director, most notable for his musicals about the Cape Coloured communities was fascinated by Ronnie Moipolai`s talent on the guitar strings that he decided to travel to the rural community of Kopong from the Cape to locate him.

After John Bokete, a Dutch national had recorded Moipolai playing his guitar next to his home at a Shebeen in Tlokweng; he uploaded the music videos on YouTube for the world to see.  Moipolai would go to this Shebeen and if people wanted him to play they would have to part with at least P5. Moipolai commonly known as Western to his legion of fans is popular for his upside down left hand guitar styling and his bass technique. In less than a year Bokete received a message from Kramer in South Africa that he wanted to invite Moipolai to Cape Town to perform at the Kalahari Karoo Blues, an unusual and sometimes very old music styles show from the far corners of the Southern Africa.

“I did not believe my eyes when I first got the message. I actually invited Ronnie to my house in Extension 4 and asked him to invite others who might be playing the same instruments. They came and I shot a few videos and uploaded them,” explains Bokete.

Kramer decided to track down Moipolai. He jumped into his motorcar with his wife and headed up north. They finally arrived in Kopong and with no extra luck Kramer stumbled upon people who could not even utter a single English word but lady lucky finally smiled upon him when he came across Moipolai`s young brother. He was told Moipolai was chronically unemployed and he made ends meet by travelling the length and breadth of the city playing for a “penny”. After several days without locating him the Kramers gave up and went back home, to the Cape.

Bokete said Kramer did not give up and kept on emailing him as he saw some interesting clips of other Batswana musicians that he had uploaded on YouTube. Finally Kramer flew to Botswana in June last year and Bokete invited two other musicians, self-made three string violin player, the 80 years old Barolong Motlogelwa trading by the stage name Bapsie and also a bow (segaba) player Oteng Piet. A meeting was convened at Bokete`s residence upon the arrival of Kramer, and Piet, who amongst the three understood a bit of English explained to his colleagues of Kramer`s ambitions. The trio jetted off to the Cape with the company of Bokete who assisted with a few logistics.

It was very interesting to note that the audience at the Cape Kalahari Karoo Blues theatre had strong ties with the Afrikaans riel dancing which Kramer noted during his visit that it was not at all lost in Botswana. They blended the melodic riffs and chords of Moipolai`s free style and the three chord cyclic patterns of Bapsie`s violin. And people just fell in love with their music. Bokete once recorded an album and he is an ardent guitar player. Kramer began his music career in the mid-1970s, singing at folk clubs and campus concerts in South Africa. He pioneered the use of Cape Afrikaans and South African English in his lyrics, often using both languages in the same song. He focused on small town South Africa and employed a persistent common sense and dark satire to tell his stories and describe his characters. On stage he always portrays himself as a rural man walking down the dusty streets. Piet through the mastery of his segaba creates an entertaining blend of beautiful music and peculiar humor that becomes a delight to watch. He can talk to his segaba and reply with his fingers. Caressing his segaba with utmost tenderness he sings in Ratsie Setlhako like rhythmic Setswana harmonizing with the quaking notes. He learnt to play the instrument from his uncle. The self-made instrument is constructed from a carefully carved wooden pole and a wire string from a worn out car tyre which may be loosened or tightened to get the desired notes. A flattened oil can is fitted at the top to serve as a loud speaker.

The trio went outside the Botswana borders for the first time upon Kramer`s invitation and they can only hope that the best come their way. When quizzed about future plans Bokete said he was in talks with a certain gentleman from the United States who is interested in visiting Botswana and make a DVD compilation of the trio and other folk musicians. Kramer, who had a mammoth task with bringing musicians to Cape Town did not rule out the possibility of future collaborations. ENDS

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