Machesa on comeback trail

After years in the music wilderness, local traditional music group, Machesa, is on a comeback trail after dropping a single titled, ‘A re yeng pitsong ya Machesa’.

They initially became heroes when they made history in 2003 by scooping a Kora Award for their hit song, Tshipidi. It was a first for the local group to win this international award as the traditional music group took the industry by storm.

Their emergence was at a time when local traditional music groups recorded and released music regularly and as such CDs and Cassettes were selling like fat cakes. By extension, Tshipidi recorded high sales. But Machesa went from hero to zero following their separation with renowned producer, Eric Ramogobya of Eric Ramco Records. The new song talks specifically about the return of the legendary group when people had already written their obituary.

It was recorded at Kalakuta Records and produced by Bobo and Prez Beats The legendary group had in 2003 taken Setswana traditional music from villages to the world. But with their impending new music, can they really mount a serious return?

The last time Machesa released an album was 11 years ago in 2011 called 16% but that did not go according to plan as the album could not replicate the past glory.

The album had songs such as Chalobeke, Tshutshu and Maja a itshutlha. According to group leader,

Batsile Lesetedi, their return was necessitated by the realisation that traditional music was fading away as people chose to go with foreign sounds. Dimane as Lesetedi is popularly known in the music industry told Arts & Culture that their fans were also part of the reasons why they made a comeback as they were asking them why they were not releasing music.

“We are making a return to make a statement that we are still alive and want to course a revolution in the traditional music. A go jewe thlako,” he said. Dimane said they are currently working on an album which will be released next year.

“Our intention is to drop our album next year just before the end of April,” he said. Machesa were recently nominated for the BOMU Awards 2022 under the Best Traditional Music category. Their nomination left many people shocked as they questioned how they got nominated without any new music under their name.