SERONGA TO THE WORLD
From nowhere, we came to know about two things this past month, number one is a village in the Okavango area called SERONGA. We secondly also came to know of a young artist who hails from that very village called KOOLKAT all because of a song that went viral on the social media platforms common to Batswana like Facebook and Tiktok named “Ko Seronga.” The song that has been playing on everyone’s head was introduced to us just by a simple Facebook vine made by a local comedian but went on viral with endless challenges made on Facebook and Tiktok. The 25 year old said he made the song when he was feeling home sick and he would have not figured that he would be where he is now, so we got to have a chat with him about the song;
So tell us about yourself and your background generally?
KoolKat is a young man who was born in Seronga, then relocated to Maun because of family reasons around 2003/4, I grew up mostly in Maun. I grew up with the love for music and I loved recording music but never really took it out there officially, the first time I did try to do that was in 2017 when I did a theme song for the Tlatsa Lebala movement which got famous around the college where I was schooling, but I didn’t take it further until now.
Regarding being a musician, how long have you been doing that and is this something you came across or grew up with the passion for?
Just growing up I have always loved music, I would sing along to all the famous songs and cram the lyrics and would listen to a song till it ended. I started doing music when I was in Form 2, I had a cousin of mine called Lesedi Timane, he is the one who called me that KoolKat name. We called each by the name until I took it up officially. We would write lyrics and record on our phones for fun until we went on to record at studios up until I went to college where I would record songs on my laptop and share to friends. In 2017 when Tlatsa Lebala went famous at school, it got me to certain places and I got nominated to be Minister of Entertainment but after that I never really got anywhere I just kept on at the same pace being comfortable with that until “Ko Seronga.”
You actually caught the limelight with the Ko Seronga song, people now came to know who you are, and so what is the song about, like when you released, what was the story behind it?
I did the Seronga song because I was missing home, I have been in the city for quite a long time so I just wrote it, if you listen the song you will notice that there are names mentioned in it and those are the names of my aunts, uncles and friends you know family members. It was also just about the games and activities we used to do in Seronga back then before this internet era where we would spend time together you know, so it was just about those times and the song gives one that feeling and the longing that even someone who has actually never been there can still relate to. So it also not just about the song now but selling our country, selling Seronga as a tourist place since the song trended and brought that curiosity among people about the place.
What actually made the song to become so popular and trend among social media platforms like Facebook and even Tiktok as well?
Well there is this young man called Poloko, he has a page on FB and he is a comedian makes funny videos on facebook so he made a video dancing to the song and it caught the attention of people on social media and it was watched shared all over and went to over 20 000 views and the challenge started there. After all the attention I took up the opportunity to open a page and made sure the attention was on the page too.
Is it the only song that you have officially released?
Officially yes it is my first officially dropped song and registered etc., but I have a lot of songs like I said before the Tlatsa Lebala one.
So talking about the song can you say it’s the one that has bought you the spot as a known local artist like in the local music world?
Well I guess what Tlatsa Lebala did was to make me known but only to a small crowd whom one can say expected me to one day be somewhere as a musician but the limelight and relevance came through this song and I was ready to do something about it so it’s different now.
Now that you are here you have released this hit it’s blowing, what are your other plans, are you may be working on an official video release and possibly any other projects?
Yah, we are working on such but we want to take things step by step, and a video is in the plans and we are looking into going to Seronga where I want the video to be shot and i am also looking for a team to work with, all of that. With projects, we are introducing a new genre called “Motyiko” which comes from the word go tyika a Setawana word we like to use so Motyiko is just the usage of Setawana on a song. The major keys are just Afro-pop and Kwasa beats and lyrically in Setawana. The aim is not to end with Seronga and go back to the foreign genres like Amapiano and all, not that we wouldn’t completely not work with those at times but to have our own unique sound that sells out there and identifies us in the Northwest and work with young artists coming from that side.
Still talking about the future plans, are you planning any collaborations with some of these renounced artists like Vee Mampeezy or Charma Gal or maybe LaTimmy?
Like I said my intension is to build a genre but one day I do not mind to feature these artists, that is not our intention right now, it is to build that North-western music and obviously where we need help for instance LaTimmy if he can be able to work with us in a particular project that he may fit into, we will be really looking to work with everyone just to promote our country.
So has no one of these famous artists approached you yet when the song went viral to maybe work with you?
Well the buzz started, but LaTimmy because he is a good guy and all he called just to give out some advice and looking out for me and telling me to be on the lookout for some things you know with all the buzz the song has been through. Um really glad he did that.
So building your brand now as a known artist, what are the challenges you have been encountering?
Some of the challenges have to do with the monitoring of the song’s distributions you know having to have Batswana have the song but still also making sure to earn from its distribution. It’s not easy for all that having the challenge of the Covid-19 and another challenge is having to adapt to being this kind of artist now who has to deal with dropping other projects and dealing with those issues wisely you know, the challenges are a lot but God helps me through every decision I make and gives me the wisdom to deal with all that.
So since we are in time like this with ristrictions to many things due to the Covid-19 like concerts and bookings how have you been trying to make an earning from the song?
Like I said we are still strategizing with my team, so I have tried to market the song in a way that will be monitored in platforms like iTunes where people will obviously have to go buy it as it already known it has been in the trend and well marketed even outside the country. We are also working on a way to have it sold in Botswana to people without access to such platforms too.
So to wrap it up what can you say as a young artist who is also upcoming, what is it that you can share with everyone out there and fellow upcoming artists too?
What I can say to fellow artists is that you have to know why you are doing music, once you know, you will be able to make music that gets you paid, when you know the reason you can be able to identify yourself as a musician and have your unique selling sound. And I can also say we have the support of Batswana so our content should appeal to them as our customer and as artists we are the ones to help Batswana grow that mentality of support because we are the ones who hold that power to inspire them as artists. Lastly, I can say always trust God, he will always guide and inspire you in all you do.
Duncan Sebeso