March 2007 Newsletter
Maitisong, Maru a Pula School, P.Bag 0045, Gaborone, Botswana. Tel: +(267)3971809 ; Fax: +(267)3184946. e-mail: maitisong@info.bw
Edited by Gao Lemmenyane
visit our web page: www.maitisong.co.bw
MAITISONG FESTIVAL
23rd – 31st March 2007
Maitisong Festival is upon us. 2007 is a special year for Maitisong because we celebrate 21 years of developing the arts in Botswana. The festival promises pomp and merriment to all the arts lovers in and around Gaborone. There will be plenty of music, song, dance, and art exhibitions. The Maitisong Festival 2007 is generously sponsored by The Department of Culture and Youth, the Chinese Embassy and Alliance Francaise with the support of the French Embassy. Please attend as many events as possible in order to experience the full programme. The organising team; Aldo Brincat (Festival Director), Stephen Jobson (Exhibition Coordinator and Set
Designer) and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful festival experience, with the hope that you will have a splendid time to enjoy the varied programme put together especially for you. We look forward to seeing you at all the events. See attached calendar for details.
OS
The Alliance Francaise helped, once again, to enliven the stage of Maitisong recently, this time with contemporary dancers from France. In the first half the show’s choreographer, Pascal Montrouge, partnered Diane Soubeyre in a playful courtship scenario. The incredibly energetic movements played out to an entertaining monologue from the female character: thoughts not usually for overhearing, but I can only recall something about smelling onions. The second half seemed overly long in the intense heat. Long pauses in action were relaxing in a meditative way, but I did not catch all the nuances mentioned in the programme.
However, it is always aweinspiring to watch people so in control of their own bodies that they defy gravity. Romain Bertet and Romain Cappello looked like reserves for the French rugby team – until they threw themselves around the stage with amazing deftness and coordination. When what appeared to be a filleted version of Soubeyre was brought into the action and manipulated from man to man, one could only wonder at how beautifully weightless and malleable she was. Finally a link to the programme notes? ‘Bone is a cry out from exile’ – where were hers?
SJ
IS THERE POWER IN OUR VOICE?
What does it take to be heard by millions, to get a valid point across and to make a difference in this word? Power In The voice. When I think of power in my voice, I think of freedom of artistic expression.
The British Council has initiated a youth artistic expression competition which will enable young people to develop their skills in performance poetry, storytelling and rap. These are talents that are being shunned at the moment, but with this initiative, that will soon change.
On 17 February 2007, Maitisong was thronged by over 300 people to witness the launch of Power In The Voice. Two artists; Zena and Jacob were flown in from London to facilitate a weeklong workshop for the Botswana mentors, who will be going around schools in Botswana, nurturing young people’’s talent in order to prepare them for the ultimate Power in the Voice finals. These mentors include Botswana’s top rappers and MCs; Stagga, Zubs, Steez and Cuppa Boy, brilliant storytellers; Mpho Rabotsima, Rasina, Olopeng and Matthews Wilson as well as seasoned poets; Boipelo Seleke, TJ and Andreattah.
The Programme is as follows;
- March – September 2007: Professional artists run workshops for participants.
- September 2007: Power in the Voice Semi Finals. Six teams to be selected
- October 2007 – February 2008: Finalists mentored by professional artists
- February 2008: Power in the Voice National Finals
- May 2008: Power in the Voice International Festival.
The countries participating in the programme are: Botswana, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, UK, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The launch evening saw all the professional artists alongside the facilitators take the stage and deliver poetry, rap and story telling in an eloquent and interesting manner. The most inspiring person of the night was Zena from the U.K.
It was a chance to not only hear poetry but to feel it and appreciate it. As she delivered her poetry, the audience became entranced in this spectrum and felt her words strongly. It showed a different and unique style to something that can usually be perceived as boring and monotonous.
Maria Lungu,
Maru a Pula student.
NINJING XIAO HONG HUA – LITTLE RED FLOWERS
To celebrate the annual Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese Spring Festival, which falls on February 18 this year, the Botswana Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (BCGCC) invited Nanjing Xiao Hong Hua (Little Red Flower) Art Troupe to perform at Maitisong. This group is China’s most prestigious children’s performing troupe. It has performed in many countries around the world and won numerous awards in domestic and international children’s choir and dancing competitions. Nanjing Xiao Hong Hua is the household name in China and a number of its members have become distinguished artists in China.
They presented 18 items to an enthusiastic audience with beautifully choreographed dance routines and elaborate costumes with different costume for each item. It was a delightful evening of song, dance and drumming using some indigenous Chinese musical instruments The visit of Nanjing Little Red Flower Artistic Group was also seen as an important step to strengthen cultural exchanges and traditional friendship between the people of China and Botswana. The event was attended by members of the Diplomats and top ranking Botswana government officials. Local Chinese artists were also invited to participate in the show.
According to Chinese traditions, the New Year Eve dinner (nian yefan) is an inseparable part of the Spring Festival celebrations, the organizing committee of the show also prepared various tasty Chinese traditional foods for all participants. The audience also participated in a prize draw to win big prizes to try good luck for New Year.
To show support and care for those orphaned by Aids pandemic in Botswana, in another performance at Maru a Pula School organized by BCGCC on February 15, the BCGCC Executive Vice Chairman & Secretary General, Mr. Miles Nan, on behalf of Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, donated P10000-00 to Gaborone SOS village. He also promised that BCGCC will continue to make contributions to the work of SOS Village.
The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce is a non-profitable organisation representing all Chinese communities in Botswana. It has played an important role in promoting friendship between the two countries. The event also demonstrated that while contributing to the economic development of Botswana, local Chinese communities are also trying other ways to help Botswana society.
Mr. Miles Nan,
Botswana Chinese General
Chamber of Commerce.
NEWSLETTER BY e-mail: You can receive the Maitisong Newsletter by e-mail without pictures and flashy graphics. Send you e-mail address and P10 to MAITISONG NEWSLETTER, P,BAG 0045, GABORONE. e-mail: maitisong@info.bw
DITSALA
FESTIVAL
MUSIC CAMP
M A I T I S O N G D I R E C T O R Y
MUSIC TEACHERS:
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PIANO:
(+THEORY) LISA MARKOVIC: 3953706
JASMINA VELDIC: 3927535
OLGA MERKER: 3918567
(+ THEORY) KE-JIA 3934888 / 72153761
VIOLIN: GUDRUN WEEKS: 3925005
KEYBOARD: DAN MOGAMI 3647512 / 72210347
SETINKANE, SEGABA: KUELA KIEMA 6596285
SAXOPHONE +THEORY:
TSILO BAITSILE 3925482 / 71231087
SOLO SINGERS:
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THREE TSWANA TENORS: D. SLATER 72402668
GAPE MOTSWALEDI baritone 71606452
TSHENOLO SEGOKGO (sop) 71467256
OTENG ZACHARIAH (tenor) 71719572
BOITUMELO PILANE (soprano) 71799351
SEGABA, SETINKANE MNFR & SALES
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KUELA KIEMA 6596285
CARIBBEAN ENTERTAINMENTS
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Steel Pan, Moko Jumbies, Calypso, Limbo
HOLLIS CLIFTON 3167359 / 72274138
MUSIC LESSONS:
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WORLD OF MUSIC 3971485 / 721952878
CHOIRS
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GABORONE SINGERS: Western oratorio: J. BROWN 3902935
DINARE CHORISTERS: Tswana & Western: L DINGALO 72198659
LEFOKO MOAGI 5882142 / 72191657
SEDIBENG CHORAL SOC: African, Western: A Batshogile 72941154
K.T.M. CHOIR: Tswana classical G. THUPANE 71658174
BOTSWANA BOYS TOP TEN: Gospel: R SEPHAKO 71678879
MOLODI WA KOMA: Tswana classical : LETSHWITI: 3923070
GABORONE YOUTH SINGERS: Rebaone Tswiio 3653515/71711426
GABORONE CHORAL SOC: Tswana classical : M.MAOTO 3914771
MARIMBA BANDS
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MAP MARIMBAS, Maru a Pula School: A MHLANGA 3912953
THORNHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL MARIMBA: R. NYATHI: 3952490
SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGE : M. KITSO :3932785
RAINBOW PRIMARY SCHOOL: Mr MUZAMHINDO 3902001
BAOBAB PRIMARY SCHOOL: M. NGULA 3923397/72535858
AFRICAN DRUMS
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MYIZER MATLHAKU 3184617
DRAMA
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PHUTHULOGO: KABELO RAMASELWANA 72165753
MAMA THEATRE: Mpho Rabotsima 71690960
GHETTO ARTISTS Productions: P.BOTLALE 72884912
THE COMPANY: Gao Lemmenyane 72266221
PHAKAMA BOTS; Intnl Arts Organisation for the young
Lemmenyane 72266221
DRAMA LINK STUDIO:L Jones 3165292 / 71297823
DANCE STUDIOS
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BALLET:RITA LEE: 3903851
BALLROOM: World Dance Academy: RAINO 72591441
TAP: VICKY WIDLAKE 72697984
AFRO-BRAZILIAN: LETSATSI: ARMSTRONG 71258298
LATIN AMERICAN: JULIA/FELIPE 3973186/71307954
CALYPSO & STILT-WALKING: H CLIFTON 3167359
TRADITIONAL DANCE
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DITHOLWANA: Mrs SEFHAKO: 3909222
MOGWANA: Ms G. BASUHI: 3956774
MOLEFE S.S.S.: Ms OCITI SANTO: 3977339
PIANO TUNING:
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PETER OTTO 3925643
FOR INCLUSION IN THIS DIRECTORY CONTACT THE MAITISONG NEWSLETTER:
Tel: 3971809 Fax: 3184946 e-mail: maitisong@info.bw
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