Friday the 16th September 2011 was the Maruapula School Setswana week. I have a soft spot for Maruapula School. I like the school because it does many positive activities under some tremendous financial difficulties. They are one of the few local private schools dedicated to the arts and promoting local culture. However, I was very disappointed with this year’s Setswana Week. It appears everything conspired against the event which had limited sponsorship compared to last year’s. The event started late because the organisers were still awaiting one of the artists.
When the event did kick off, the volumes were too loud and the lights were all over the place. I felt like I was in an 80’s disco as I was irritatingly flashed by stage lights though I was part of the audience. Then came the music. We were treated to Vee’s zaza which had no thematic link to the story line. I speak of a story line as if there was one; but there was none. There was just no story. We were supposed to be watching some story of cultural self discovery which however was nonexistent. All we were fed was strange dances and music without thematic link. I write this column with much pain, shame and disappointment since I had expected more from Maruapula but this year they disappointed. Perhaps it is the high standards of last year which wowed some of us. Last year Lister Boleseng’s band provided some impeccable background music to all musical artists who performed that night. There was some modern music with Zeus, Helen and Nono which was threaded into the story line. This year’s backing artists were amateurish, tripping on live microphones, having faulty cordless microphones, having some of the speakers dying in the middle of a performance as well as irritating individuals walking into the performance to fix some bass guitar volumes.
Even where the performances could have been redeemed, the PA as well as the backing band were disappointing. Puna Gabasiane came into the stage dressed in yellow Herero cultural attire and belted Mme o leleka baeng ba nketetse. On a normal day when the sun is shining, this tune could have lifted the entire event to a high level; but it all sounded like it was being played from a dingy smoky bar and not from the prestigious Maruapula stage.
But I must concede that not everything was bad about the show. The traditional dances, especially the phatlhisi dances were absolutely impressive. I was also impressed by the tall and handsome Kalanga speaking and singing artist called Smarrh. He is the future of Kalanga music. His performance was outstanding in his presentation. Dr Vom was also not to be outdone with his Tsaya thobane song. But we will be unfair to Dr. Vom not to advice him that the tune has been overdone and he should contemplate producing some new material. This specific tune has been done in football matches, weddings, UB events, concerts and political rallies. It is about time Vom produced something fresh and less violent.
When the event was finished we were left wondering whether the event was done or whether there was more coming. The curtain closed, and we filed out with a bitter taste in our mouths. This could have been a great evening but it was largely wasted. I left without a message, a theme or any memorable event from the stage. This was unlike Maruapula. But I do know something about this school which fills me with great optimism. They are never satisfied with mediocrity. I believe they are equally embarrassed by the event as I was and I trust they will return next year with something more refined. There are many young and fresh artists who could give the event supreme professionalism, artistic excellence and class. I am here thinking of people like Eureka the Coverboy, Tshepo Lesole, Kay-Zee and the freshest sounds of Thabang. Another impressive character who could be invited to set Maitisong alight is the hilarious Ramozara; o foo ke fano! There is also a need to identify a producer who could develop a solid story line which will captivate the minds of the people and remind us about the importance of culture. We are currently like a ship without a rudder; pushed around by the cultural waves of our time. The greatest danger is that we have educated our people to illiteracy in both their culture and western culture. Children are neither conversant in their language nor English. What we have produced is a hybrid child with an identity crisis. The child has become an alien to his own culture. He has become a foreigner at home, yearning for a better place beyond the stormy seas.
There is therefore great value in Maruapula maintaining great standards at these cultural events. While they come under criticism in this column, I am fully aware that they are amongst a few who have shown tremendous commitment to the development of local cultures and languages. I therefore criticise them hesitantly with the fear that such criticism has the potential to breed despair and discouragement within them. That would be most unfortunate. My hope is that they will reflect and regroup and return next year with something better.
