The World Choir Games is the world’s largest international choir competition and offers the Champions Competition and the Open Competition categories. KTM Choir secured a berth at the World Series by virtue of winning the regional qualifiers held in South Africa.
The Gaborone-based chorale is the only musical group from Africa at the competition. KTM Choir is competing under the Champions Competition in the Folklore category with the Accompaniment section.
The musical group is to perform a musical composes of some of the local music composers including, the late Gomolemo Motswaledi, Luka Disho and Terrence Dube. Conducted by Dube, KTM Choir is to perform four songs. The ensemble took to the Gangnueng Danoje Training Center this (Wednesday) morning. KTM Choir performed some of the traditional choral songs including, Vula Eno Thethema, Dikgomo, Mmamati and Lekanyane. The choir has been lauded for playing a role in the preservation of the Setswana culture.
FNBB Foundation’s Regina Sikalesele-Vaka said the KTM Choir through its musical pieces continues to remind the locals of their beginnings from pre-independence to date.
“As a choir, it (KTM Choir) focuses on cultural music, it focuses on music that draws us back to our roots, that reminds us of where we come from. I think that within the gap that has been formed in our society by the developments that have come about, it is very important that we must have those who remind us of our consciousness that keep reminding us we have where have come and how far we have moved away. To that extent, I would like to thank KTM Choir for the space they are filling in our society.
It is a very important element that we at FNBB Foundation, we are appreciative of,” Sikalesele-Vaka said. She was speaking at the KTM Choir send-off ceremony held at Maitisong Hall recently. FNB Foundation funded the trip with P500,000, a P200,000 increment from the P300,000 cheque of 2019. The Assistant Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Buti Billy praised KTM Choir for their hand in cultural tourism. He said the chorale is a true cultural icon and their participation at the World Choir Games will help sell the Setswana culture to the world.
“We are in an era where there are limited job opportunities and we have an organised choir that helps create employment. You are drawing people into this music business and as the government, we have said we would use the creative industry to grow the economy of the country. I believe this type of arrangement will help expand the market and also promote cultural tourism. The moment you step on stage you will be selling Botswana and already everyone in attendance will be eager to know about Botswana; you will be generating more interest from the world,” Billy said.
KTM Choir awaits results from this morning’s performances and the verdict if they proceed to the next stage. Amongst KTM Choir’s world adventure sponsors are Okavango Diamond Company, Botswana Tourism Organisation, Botswana Gambling Authority, Botswana Oil and Botswana International Trade Centre. KTM Choir is also celebrating 30 years of existence this year.
