Good night Kenya, oops Berry Heart
Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Friday November 4, 2016 15:33
Q: The album is titled Kenya. It has Kenyan President on the front cover, Kenyan charity organisation, Kenyan flag on the back cover. It comes out in the euphoria of the BOT50 anniversary celebrations. What was going through your mind when you celebrated Kenya in the midst of all the BOT50 euphoria?
Berry Heart: I planned this album two years ago although I recorded the first song Kenya on January 3, 2016. My celebration for Kenya is an honour to a country that gives me more business than any other country including Botswana. Kenya is the first foreign country to cover a story on me in 2012. As an entrepreneur I understand my corporate social responsibility very well, giving back to the community. I had to honour Kenya and donate annually to an orphanage I fell in love with in 2013.
Q: Do you see using the Kenyan President, colours and flag on your CD as something that can jeorpadise your otherwise good music, especially among the patriotic Batswana music consumers?
Berry Heart: Well, having President Uhuru Kenyatta (UK) on my cover was one of the strategies that any critical thinker would think of in pursuit of the Kenyan market especially if I am doing it for a good course. UK and the Kenyan flag are on the cover to make the CD very appealing for Kenyans. It makes sense to honour a country by having its President and its flag on the cover.
Q: You are a fairly learned person who understands issues and connotations, were you trying to convey a particular unhappiness about your country by choosing to celebrate another country in the midst of BOT50 euphoria?
Berry Heart: I was not even aware that that could be questioned [BOT50] because Kenya and Botswana have great relations and I would not understand why people should have a problem with an African celebrating Africa while people have celebrated America and other first world countries. I love Kenya so much I will do anything for that country.
My Kenya album is well received in Kenya and India so far and it seems the same will be true in Botswana if it got six BOMU awards nominations. Kindly note it will be such a bonus for Kenya to be well received by Batswana. It is however very important to know that I am a citizen of the world and therefore do not solely rely on Botswana market.
Q: Do you not feel a little ashamed that you can go to this length to promote another country while you cannot do the same for the country of your birth? Do you hate your country?
Berry Heart: Kenyan cover and celebration of Kenya has nothing to do with anyone’s unhappiness. Its aim is to honour Kenya. I totally do not have any power on the reaction of the consumers. I made a good album for a good course and I will be grateful for any support.
Q: The album cover has caused some to view you as a political activist-cum muso While at that, do you still have aspirations of being an MP?
Berry Heart: How is Kenyan cover political? Yes I do aspire to be an MP. Note that my music and my political life are far apart. I would like people to understand that Berry Heart is an artist and Kootshepile Motseonageng is not.
Q: Your reaction to the appointment of age mate, Bogolo Kenewendo to Parliament?
Berry Heart: Frankly, the appointment of BK was one of the best decisions made by government this year. It shows that we are still a country that celebrates the youth and women. I was impressed.
Q: Berry Heart, there seems to be furore swelling over your album’s six nominations. People are saying it was nominated for awards even before it was released, that it was suspicious that an album that was still in the studio could be considered for any award at all. Some are even suggesting that perhaps the judges had “Berry Heart for dinner”.
Berry Heart: Well, our nation is good at complaining on everything. I am no longer bothered at all by this trend of having an opinion on anything even if one has no knowledge on. Kenya album was fully wrapped on September 23.
I had to honour President Uhuru Kenyatta by officially releasing it on his birthday October 26. It was by then distributed on itunes and amazon and other 250 online distributors. E sale e tsenye mo market wa Kenya ka 23rd Sept o ka cheka le wena (It entered the Kenyan market on September 23, you can also check for yourself).
No one including me knew who the judges were. May be just may be they could have had me for dinner.
I encourage anyone who doubts Kenya, which is quite a beautiful album to get a copy and give criticism later.