We are celebrating our African Heritage with Rising Star no: 199! Traditional music is here to stay whether our people like it or not. It is the only way to define and express us as Africans. Mr Phuti Ramaphakela spoke to leader of Setswana traditional dance group, Goitsone Dikola who speaks a fluent Setswana (language) one can dance to!
Goitsone (29) is from Mahikeng, North West Province in South Africa and currently reside in Mankweng, Turfloop in Limpopo Province. A super active dance told us how the group was formed and the challenges they face.
“Dikola Arts and Culture group is formed in 2018 at Rustenburg. I used to run show at Sun City under some people’s companies and were 10 members then. In 2021, I got a job in Polokwane, am Chef by profession. I observed and found that there are not much traditional dancing groups. I went home and arrange my group members to look for greener pastures in Limpopo Province. Many people still do not believe that we walked all the way from Rustenburg around 19h00 and landed in Mankweng the next day in the morning. We were carrying only bags, blankets and drums and it was not easy”, said Goitsone.
Their arrival at Mankweng led them adding more members and proudly have more than 50 kids that we teach the traditional dance and all South African cultures. Mother Figure, as he popularly known, added that the reason for choosing traditional music is because he is a spiritual person.
“Many groups fail to succeed because once become famous and fully booked, one will claim that the efforts come from him and stuff, but Dikola Arts and Culture is a registered, so no one is bigger than other, we work as a team. My best highlight was when we were invited to perform in Brazil, I danced so much and end up fainting on the stage because of excitement. The crowd went crazy thinking it’s a part of dance”, he said laughing.
Besides successful performances in Brazil and Tunisia, Dikola Arts and Culture group face lots of challenges such as accommodation for a group. His messages to all the groups out there is to never give up in life.
We are proud Mother Figure and wish lot of youth can push all African traditional music to reach the world.
Bookings can be done: Facebook @ dikola arts and culture... TikTok @ Dikola arts and culture or contact @ 0736170569
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