30 May 2022

Some Sebirwa cultural groups that have qualified for President’s Day competitions finals vow to stage some stellar performance that will remain indelible in the minds and hearts of viewers, post the competitions.

By setting the stage ablaze, the groups will be sending a message to all and sundry that Sebirwa song and dance have their roots in Bobirwa.

Partly, the groups seek to resuscitate pride in the dance while adding some creativity to notch it up from the moves inherited from their forefathers.

 Although the groups have been inactive owing to COVID-19 restrictions, they have vowed thorough preparations going to the finals.

Ladies clad in Zebra striped regalia, living true to their name; Re Tlaare Ke Dipitse stomp on stage with ladies in worn-out overskirts, imitating old women as they find their way atop the stage with walking sticks.

In the worn-out dresses the ladies spot some oversized faux hips as they trudge up before pulling the skirts off to reveal their zebra stripped skirts for business.

As they dive into song and dance to Sekgekge sa lona jwala song, they enact imbibing alcohol from the containers and ultimately dancing to some failing steps like a drunk person would do.

These props, the group’s public relations officer, Kesegofetse Molefhi said were meant to usher in creativity in Sebirwa dance, which hitherto had been limited to just a walking stick.

“We’re going back to prepare even more. We want to serve our viewers a product they’ll never forget although we had been hamstrung by lack of finances that affected our training camps,” Molefhi said.

Formed in 2002 in Bobonong, Re Tlaare Ke Dipitse has been a constant feature in President’s Day competitions, where they stole hearts locally and beyond borders.

The group has so far performed in South Africa, Swaziland and China. This year the team intends to bring the crown home after being pushed to their level best by the competition.

“The competition was stiff because it pitted groups that for a long time yearned for this meet up. Every team stages a stern fight and it was up to the judges to strike some mediation,” Molefhi said as she gasped for air following celebrations after announcement that they came first.

Sebirwa dance title holders, Tsa Kalawa Cultural Group, a merger of Tsa Mmala and Manamejankwe, which competed for the first time under the new name, came second and are on course to put out all the stops to topple their competition.

“We are going to work hard on our power, improve on our attire and show the nation the true Sebirwa dance,” vowed Ruth Pule of Tsa Kalawa.

Although she felt that the young ones were timid on stage, Pule said the impending drilling would sharpen their edges to ready them for the fight ahead.

Like Re Tlaare Ke Dipitse, Tsa Kalawa have added props.

Dancing to their Leromaroma La Bomma le le a Ndapisa, a song of a child complaining about being constantly sent on errands, Tsa Kalawa in their blue skirts cut from the German print cloth had Pule taking constant snuff before bursting into song to lead the dance.

Although a complaint, with dancers wielding their faux axes as they go about their assigned chores, the dancing ladies swing their shoulders to the sides while simultaneously gyrating their waists.

Led by the dying momentum of the drums as they fade, the dancers drop down on their knees to mark an end to their spirited show.

The two groups will be joined by Mothophing Cultural Group as the Bobirwa groups seek to stage unprecedented dominance in the capital city.

Only two of the five competing groups; Mothabeng Cultural Group and Bakgalajwe did not make it to the finals. Ends