Lentsenye leans on the setinkane

Teichler Rankoa | Friday December 12, 2014 10:54

 

Today, Lentsenye is a master of the setinkane and everywhere he goes people turn their heads or ask him to play one or two songs for them.

This setinake player is well known in and around Mahalapye and has competed in two President’s Day Competitions, entering for the first time in the Central region in 2013 and coming out in position three.

 Last year, he competed against 10 other contestants and again this year, where he only managed to get fourth position beating at least 15 of the 19 setikane competitors. He said that since he is not permanently employed, he is happy that he uses his talent to put food on the table for his family, and did not regret ever going to the cattle-post after failing to continue with his formal education.

Born in Mahalapye 38 years ago, Lentsenye told Arts & Culture that he is from a family of eight.  He is the fifth child. He said that he only did standard seven before heading to the cattle-post with instruction from his father for him to herd cattle.

It was when he started trying his thumbs on the setinkane, which belonged to his cousin Otsile Katse.  Lentsenye said his cousin would play his setinkane everytime he rests, or while sitting by the fire in the evening to entertain them before they surrendered to their beds.

He noted that his cousin loved this instrument, so much that he carried it everywhere he went, and when playing it, other herdboys would listen attentively and enjoy this artist’s melody.  

Lentsenye said watching and listening to his elder cousin playing setinkane made him love Tswana music.  Also, he fell in love with the melodious instrument, but was discouraged when Katse never left it at home.  He could understand that chances for him to learn how to play it were slim since there was no way he was ever going to put his fingers on the instrument.  

So enamoured with the instrument he was, but the closest he could get to it was while watching Katse playing it shaking his head and stomping his foot to the his music. He highlighted that he could not believe his ears when one day sitting by the fire, his cousin offered to teach him how to play setinkane.  He was not sure his cousin would keep his promise.

“I love setinakane and Setswana songs.

 Those are ther reasons why I gave it more focus after my cousin volunteered to teach me and I am really thankful to him for this,” said Lentsenye.

When given the instrument the following day, Lentsenye said he did not panic and this impressed his cousin and teacher.  It did not take him long to know how to play setinkane.

“My cousin was happy with my performance and he told me that in order for me to catch on fast, I have to play it time and again, since I had long waited for this moment.

 I took the advantage of his advice, so it did not take me long to play it,” said Lentsenye.

Impressed by his young cousin’s hands on the setinkane, Katse made a new one for him and like his tutor, he carried it everywhere he went.  He played to master his skills and emulate Katse who was known for his setinkane melodies all around the Letlhakane area.

After relocating from the cattle-post to Mahalapye, Lentsenye said he continued playing setinkane at the bars and sheebens.  There the appreciative audience would pay him for his talent, and he was happy to see many people enjoying his play.  “I also enjoyed what I was doing and even forgot that I did not manage to go further with school. I have found setinkane to use as my education in the future,” he said. Lentsenye said it did not take long before he got invites to perform at different events, among others being at weddings, graduation parties, schools parties and prize giving days in and around Mahalapye. “I also performed during election campaign rallies including this year.   I was hired by political candidates and parties to entertain their audiences with my setinkane,” Lentsenye said. During his performances, he has shared the stage with Mantshwabisi and the Kwaito Weapons in Mahalapye more recently, where he left the audience asking for more.