10 Jul 2019

Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete (KTM) choir will represent Africa at the European Choir Games in Goteborg, Sweden on August 5. 

KTM choir together with one choir from Ghana are the only two from Africa that will compete alongside other choirs from France, Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom, Belgium, Demark and Spain among others.

Speaking at the sponsorship launch by the European Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC), Botswana’s Ambassador to Sweden Jan Sadek said they were happy to assist KTM choir to be part of the European Choir Games, which normally gathers 5 000 singers annually. 

He said it was pleasing that KTM choir also contributed to the development of the country through music and performance saying their participation at the competition signified that music could also be exported to diversify other avenues of export. He said Botswana had been perceived as a peaceful and stable country with positive development such as the ones brought by diamonds and tourism.

“KTM will export and promote Botswana culture and make the country even more well-known. Botswana has an excellent brand internationally already, based on the country’s peaceful and successful development,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of music saying it raised positive feels, emotions and great experience that could help overcome difficult situations in life.

KTM’s board chairperson Lorato Morapedi said the journey to represent Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa was not a journey for the choir but for the country. 

Morapedi said the choir, which was formed with the objective of affording the youth to express and preserve cultural choral music had been in existence for 25 years. Over the years, the choir has manifested its self as a choral academy, she said noting that through interest and expertise, choral music was growing in the country, a demonstration of KTM’s achievements. 

“The choir boasts of several artists and through the nurturing they got from KTM, they have been able to become professionals,” she said. KTM prides its self to have developed Lizibo, Puna Gabasiane, Nnunu Ramogotsi, Mpito Pilane, Gaone Seitshiro, Gape Motswaledi, Kago Ragoeng and Tebogo Ketlhoilwe among others.  

Meanwhile, Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development will cover plane tickets, other expenses, such as accommodation and travel while Liberty Life will take care of medical aid and attires. ENDS