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musical
director - Captain Bajaki Mosweu |
Botswana - In
its efforts to assist in the crystallization of the country's
VISION 2016 as a "compassionate, just and caring nation,"
Botswana Defence Force Steel Orchestra joined three other BDF
bands - Marimba Band, Dance Bands and Military Bands - to stage
their 15th annual cultural presentations.
The concerts have been presented over the
last two months - November/December 2005 - in the landlocked
diamond blessed country. All proceeds go to charity.
It was the first time the show was staged in Lobatse and it
turned out to be a rather emotional finale for music lovers who
converged on the Civic Centre. The founder of the
steelband is the outfit's musical director - Captain Bajaki
Mosweu - an accomplished musician who has read up to grade 7 in
music. He was also the beneficiary of a steelpan
tuning/arranging course in London, England in 1993. Thanks
to the instigation and foresight of Lieutenant General Ian Khama
(now Vice President of the Republic of Botswana) and Lt Col.
M.M. Hassen (now retired) who first heard the steelpan from
Trinidad and thought it would be of great interest to the BDF. A
set of instruments were then acquired and shipped to Botswana
for the BDF.
The BDF Steelband has 7 members including a singer. Dignities
and music lovers were treated to traditional, African jazz, and
RNB from the only musical invention since the last century.
Hollis Clifton
Botswana/Africa correspondent
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