Kalahari Roses sweet scents Germany

Source : Kutlwano

Author : Calviniah Kgautlhe

Location : Gaborone

Event : Feature article

Article: Calviniah Kgautlhe

Photos: Courtesy of Nnunu

Powerful as it may, music has a tendency of creating its own special emotional effect when it touches our souls. “It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything,” a classic Ancient Greek philosopher Plato once said.

And when Kalahari Roses – an ensemble of local Jazz icons – set out on a musical journey to collaborate with German, Ireland and American artistes in Germany to tell their tales, once again Plato was somehow immortalized.

“When we left Botswana, we did not know what to expect, and for each one of us, save for one, we have never set our foot on European soil before, but the reception to our music here was wonderful,” said Nnunu Ramogotsi in a telephone interview while in Germany preparing for a live radio broadcast with one of Germany`s radio stations, HR2 kultur, in Frankfurt.

The Kalahari Roses ensemble which Nnunu said comprised herself, Kearoma Rantao, Rose Motshidiemang as vocalists, Kabo Leburu as vocalist, harmonica and guitar player, Wynton Senwelo on the drums, and Kabelo Tamukate who plays guitar, saxophonist Matt Dasco (USA), Norbert Völker on violin (German), Peter Hermann on the lead guitar (German), Don O`Connor and Markus Reich on percussions produced a packed album titled, Tales from Botswana.

“In our songs we told them of wonderful African tales, about the simple way of life, about the sun, kwa masimo, go lema, cattle posts, the beautiful life that we lead. Though our songs were in Setswana, interestingly, they danced along,” said Nnunu.

“The beautiful part is that our audiences were farmers who could easily relate with our music as we explained to them in English, and they danced along which taught me that music is a beautiful way of bringing people together it does not matter which race you come from, it`s all about sharing,”

“The band blended in so well and the Germans, American, and Irish grasped fast and performed our Setswana songs instrumentals exceptionally well after our first week of rehearsal, we had a great time really,” she quipped with her usually bold voice sounding muffled over the phone.

Nnunu told Kutlwano that of all the places they performed at, the biggest crowd they pulled was around 5000 in an open space in the center of Fulda town which she described as “quite an achievement.”

“The major challenge was that it was hectic, there was no time to rest, we were always on the road every day but it was worth it,” she said.

She said they kept the crowd on its toes, eating from their palm from the first song to the last, that she worked the crowd up with her classic, ‘Mmasonoko` , ‘when the music plays` by Kearoma, ‘Xiao` and ‘foot steps` by Kabo Leburu.

Nnunu added that banking on the success of their tour which began on the August 24 and ended on September 13, they intended to spread their wings further to other European countries and share their Tales from Botswana. “Plans are well underway,” she said as she ended our interview to join her crew for the radio jazz live show on HR2 kultur. ENDS