The song titled, ‘Cecilia’ is a rendition of a folk song Matichara a a duelwe by the late Lebogang, a popular four string folk guitarist from Letlhakane.
According to the artist, the song was produced in the midst of the recent protracted standoff between teachers’ unions, the Botswana Sector of Educators Trade Union in Botswana (BOSETU), the Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) and the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC).
The parties were at loggerheads over rates for submission of coursework, marking and invigilation of BEC exams for the 2022-2023 cycle. The parties eventually agreed that the coursework and invigilation rates will be increased by five percent for this cycle of examinations.
Mabua, who is an Art teacher based at Tadabigwa Junior Secondary School in Francistown, said the song speaks to the challenges that the teaching profession faces, and persuades those in power to pay teachers accordingly. In the song, he sings the line; “Matichara a a duelwe, tiro ye ba e dirang e tona thata”. The Selebi-Phikwe-born artist also said the song was produced and recorded at Hall of Fame Studios by Alfred Kavezedi in Mahalapye “First the beats are appealing. Secondly the saga between government and teachers and the humour that it has,” he said.
Through the song, Mabua said he really wanted to use the humour it has to catch the attention of the listener. “I also wanted to try and infuse folk with jazz. If you can listen carefully the guitars that are played there are four-string traditional guitars including the base,” he added. Mabua is not new to the music scene. The artist first burst into the music scene back in 2007 with his first album titled, ‘Matsubutsubu’.
He followed it up with an Afro jazz album titled, ‘Abuti’ in 2014, which was followed by Jwala jo and Go goleng gaaka. Mabua has also done collaborations with Stanley Nyatanga (Motho wa mmona) and HT Tautona (O kgona jang), which was recorded to help raise funds for the disabled.
He has performed alongside well known artists such as Lister Boleseng, Sereetsi and the Natives, Banjo Mosele, Punah Gabasiane and Thabang. He said part of the royalties from this single will be channeled to his family.
