Splash, Shumba to Rock Phikwe
New kid on the traditional music block, Shumba Ratshega, will stage his first show in Mmadinare since releasing his debut album Makhirikhiri, which has proved to be a hit. Dan Tshanda’s stable, Splash, will also be in Phikwe for their annual show, featuring Dalom Kids, Splash, Peacock, Patricia Majalisa, Don B, and Matshikos.
Mmadinare and Phikwe revellers will be spoilt for choice, as both shows will be held simultaneously tomorrow.
The traditional Splash show usually attracts hordes of disco music lovers even from as far afield as Francistown.
Splash has staged successful shows in Selebi-Phikwe after a 2003 concert ended in crowd violence that claimed two lives.
The group responded by cancelling the March show but returned the following November amid outcries from council authorities and the public, fearing a recurrence.
However, Tshanda promised tight security and moved the show from the Town Hall to a more spacious arena, Area One, the venue of this weekend’s show.
After the violent 2003 show, Tshanda distanced himself from hooligans who normally follow his shows. He promised that rogue elements that spoil his shows would be flushed out.
The stable has since held subsequent shows at Area One that have largely been incident-free.
Already, the weekend show is the most talked about despite a hike in fee. In the past Tshanda’s music lovers in Phikwe had to part with P40 but this time it has been raised to P50.
A number of Tshanda’s artists have released new albums since their last show and their fans are eager to sample some of the tracks.
Shumba Ratshega will team up with Gong Master, another traditional music artist. Ashley Gops, who plays a combination of disco and afro-pop sounds and Xtra Melody, will also perform at this weekend’s show.
However, the four groups will be wary of the counter attraction the Splash show poses as it will be staged hardly 15km away.
To their quartet’s advantage is the relatively lower admission fee charge of P30 for their show at Mmadinare Community Hall.
The local musicians have an opportunity to prove that local music has come of age and has the pulling power.
[Via Mmegi]
