By Kabelo Selebogo
Ikage Arts Foundation, with the support of the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation (Acsr), last weekend hosted the Annual Clap and Tap Indigenous Music Festival at Rustenburg’s Tlhabane Community Hall.
Clap and tap has a long history in the South African acappella music genre, and its popularity has soared over the years.
The faith-based non-instrumental genre combines vocals and rhythmic clapping of hands to create angelic melodies.
The Festival ran for over a 12-hour non-stop period, featuring Mighty Choristers Gospel Choir from Botswana, Motheo Wa Emmanuel Gospel Choir from Rustenburg, Dinaledi Tsa Tumelo Choir from Moruleng and Redemption Spiritual Choir from Krugersdorp. The captivating performances got the energetic crowd singing along to the tunes belted out by the groups.
The hall was packed to the rafters, with a wide audience from as far afield as Gauteng and Botswana.
Among the audience was Acsr MEC Galebekwe Tlhapi. “Clap and tap plays a significant role in promoting indigenous languages, culture, traditional gospel music, and it also uplifts the spirit,” said Mme Tlhapi.
Tlhapi added that the genre should be promoted to be on par with its counterparts.
“The Department will help ensure that Annual Clap and Tap Indigenous Music Festival is part of its flagship events.” She left the stage leading the singing of the popular hymn “Bohang Seema”.
The annual Festival, which now has four main events under its wing, seeks to raise awareness of the importance of indigenous music. The event aspires to bring different cultures together in one venue to share and celebrate different languages in song.
Ikage Arts Foundation Director Kagiso Seleke said the Festival was bigger than the performances on the day.
“Before and after the main event we have a series of programmes that aim to capacitate North West choirs through workshops, focusing on the business of music such as compositions, selling recorded music, organising concerts, live performances, management skills, marketing and the impact of modern technology in music.
“The choirs will be travelling from the North West to Botswana and Namibia on a two- week tour, to showcase their capabilities outside the country.”
Issued by: Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation. Enquiries: Shuping Sebolecwe (083 302 6318)
