Culture Spears hints at new music, exciting collaborations
Culture Spears hints at new music, exciting collaborations
After years of steadfastly preserving Setswana culture through their vibrant music, multi-award-winning traditional group Culture Spears continues to lead the charge. This week, the iconic ensemble went live on social media from the studio, exciting fans by hinting at and even sampling an upcoming new song.
Lead singer and founding member, Kabelo Mogwe, brought the entire team together, later requesting the producer to play a snippet of their unreleased track. While remaining somewhat elusive about the exact launch date, Mogwe assured fans that the release would be “sooner than later.”
“We are coming in stronger and fiercer like before,” Mogwe declared. “The name of the song is ‘Ha Dina Mahala,’ and it is such a poetic song that speaks to what adults will understand better. It is still cooking and once ready and ripe, it will be available on all digital platforms.”
Adding to the anticipation, Mogwe hinted that another song is also in the works, featuring a collaboration with another artist. Though cagey with specifics, the artist is strongly suggested to be one of South Africa’s prominent “Lekompo” artists, with speculation pointing towards either Makhadzi or Shandesh.
The tantalizing piece of the song shared during the live session featured the lyrics “Re bina Lekompo,” loosely translated as “We are dancing Lekompo,” further fueling excitement about this cross-border collaboration.
Culture Spears has, over the years, become an epitome of cultural preservation. The troupe has travelled extensively across the globe, proudly showcasing Botswana’s rich traditional music and captivating stage presence. Their enduring popularity and visible affection across Southern Africa firmly establish them as the leading traditional dance group in the country.
Their enduring appeal was vividly demonstrated this past weekend when Culture Spears was invited to perform at the Clash of Legends football extravaganza in Francistown. A trending video from the event captured South African legendary footballer, Itumeleng Khune, joyfully dancing alongside the group to their all-time hit, “Ntjanyana Borikhirikhi.” Khune later shared the video on his Facebook account, captioning it, “Fun was had in Francistown. Culture Spears is my all-time favorite group. Such beauty.”
The group recently returned from a warmly received visit to the Northern Cape in South Africa. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a prominent opposition political party in South Africa, has shown consistent fondness for Culture Spears, regularly inviting the traditional group to perform at their political rallies almost every year.
Culture Spears was formed in 1991 under Kulenyane Studios. They boast a formidable discography of five albums: Korone, Kulenyane, Khudu, Kuweletsana, and Kulanche. Their album Kulenyane, produced by Zimbabwean producer Johane Maseko, was an instant sensation, selling an astounding 60,000 units in its early stages.
Over the years, the group has grown exponentially, earning the prestigious Presidential Award of Merit. In a testament to their international recognition, they were invited by former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, to perform for him in 2008.
As Culture Spears prepares to unleash new music, their continued dedication to their craft and their role as cultural ambassadors remains unwavering, promising more timeless contributions to the African music landscape.
