Motswako

I was backstage with KG, the vocalist in the Motswako trio, Morafe and I told him I had wanted to write about Motswako but was a little hesitant. He said I should write anyway. So I did.

Motswako in SeTswana means “mixture” and has been dubbed as the description of the mixture of SeTswana raps with other indigenous languages and English. This movement has been a part of our culture for years. Arguably starting with Stoan Seate in the group, Bongo Maffin. He was the first rapper to use the Tswana language in a rap in mainstream music. I said arguably, right? Ok.

So Motswako has seen many folds and changes in the years. It has even attracted nay-sayers who have said year after year that the movement is doomed. And these are mostly people who have no insight on the movement. Just a zoo-visitor-view (so to speak).

In a cover of a young magazine, a new term was born that was to be the name of the unit that seemed to be a force to reckon with in the South African Music scene, not just in Hip Hop: Motswako Republic. At the helm of it all were (and still are) HHP (Hip Hop Pantsula); Mo Molemi; Tuks Senganga; KG, Khuli and Towdee who make up the only mainstream group, Morafe. Hot on their heels are the young foot-soldiers: Notshi; Element; Cassper Nyovest; Andrianto; Fifi Cooper; KT and Lection. Supporting these guys on the decks are two talented DJ's, Zondi and Lemonka.

The gentlemen at the helm of this movement have between them 18 studio albums that have been released in the past 13 years. That's a pretty dominant feat for Hip Hop acts in this country and between them, they have had four SAMAs (South African Music Awards) and a number of nominations. The biggest export not just to Motswako but for the country as well, being HHP who is internationally acclaimed too.

I had to learn SeTswana from a Church Hymn book to be able to fully grasp what was been said in these Motswako rhymes because my Tswana was very weak, having been diluted by the English I had to speak everyday at school and consequently at home too. This is how much I was taken by the rhymes. The story of me and Motswako :) Started with a hook; lead to a t-shirt and hoodie chase; flourished into friendships and has lead me to being on the front line as its First Lady. I don't rap. Fifi does. She sings too. And she has also been named First Lady of Motswako. LOL!

And in the years that this fraternity has been around, I have witnessed businesses flourish; young talent has been unearthed and groomed; challenges have been met; sponsorship deals being clinched; endorsement deals being accomplished; squabbles have been squashed and identities within the family have been established. It is almost as though in the truest form, these boys and girls have come from one womb and have learnt to share the spotlight when need be and still be able to hold their own when apart.

So the nay-sayers will carry on saying what they have to to sell papers and have something to discuss at water coolers. The foot-soldiers will take the torch from the big brothers and be the next generation of commanders in the Hip Hop scene because as one member of the movement has on numerous occasions stated: "Motswako was, is and always will be".