Category: Botswana
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Sasa Klaas- The Queen of Rap
For this assignment, I looked into the work of Botswana artist Saroni Motlhagoni, professionally known as Sasa Klaas. She was born in 1993 to a single mother who was a political figure. Sasa Klaas dabbled in multiple parts of the music industry holding the titles of singer, songwriter and finally hip hop rapper. She debuted
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Sasa Klaas and Her Impact on Women Empowerment
Sasa Klaas was a Botswana hip hop female artist from Botswana who has introduced a unique sound that makes her stand out from other female artists. While most female artists cater to the R&B scene, Sasa prefers the upbeat style that allows her fans to see her vibrant personality. In the song “Vapors,” Sasa aims
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ATI Stands With The Entertainment Industry
In the country of Botswana, much political corruption can occur. ATI, a prominent hip hop artist in Botswana, published a song in the summer of 2020, addressing the political corruption occurring in his country. The song, titled “Stimamolelo,” was directed at Tumiso Rakgare, who was the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development. Due
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Botswana Hip Hop: Chapter 1
The Impact of Zeus Zeus, formally known as Game Goabaone Bantsi, is a hip hop artist and MC from Gaborone, which is the largest city in Botswana. With much of his music entailing a fusion of English and Tswana, he has been able to reach large audiences who have become great fans of his work.
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Conversations with African Women Artists
This is a clip of a few of the conversations that we have had with African women MCs around the world. In addition to these interviews, the podcast has produced two mixtape episodes that feature new hip-hop releases from African women around the world. Conversations with artists revolve around many topics, including gender, sexuality, race,
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HHAP EP 71: Multiple Diaspora Cultural Experiences Influencing the Creativity of Sampa the Great
Born in Zambia, Sampa the Great lived in the United States, Australia, and Botswana. With multiple African and Diaspora experiences, her music and style are very Pan African. Her work is Pan African in a very organic way. It does not claim to be conscious or preach about Pan Africanism, it just is. Because of this, as a listener, there is joy in listening to music that speaks to our multicultural Black identities. In this interview, she talks about existing as a Black person in different cultural spaces and her interactions across the continent and in the Diaspora. Sampa the Great also talks about her experiences with racism and self-identification while studying in the US in the early 2010s, and later after she moved to Australia. She also talks about the differences between racism in the US and racism in Australia. She delves into the differences in the social unity of Black people in the US and in Australia, where in the US there is a division between Black immigrants and multi-generation-US-born Blacks and in Australia there is an understanding of the importance of Black unity in the face of living in societies that are held up by institutional racism. As an artist, Sampa the Great released her first mixtape in 2015 while living in Australia. Several singles, EPs, and mixtapes later, she released her debut solo album, The Return, in 2019. The album peaked at No. 12 on the Australian music charts. She went on to win Best Hip Hop Release at the 2019 and 2020 ARIA Music Awards, Australia’s top music award. In 2020, she also won the ARIA award for Best Female Artist and Best Independent Release. Sampa the Great has been very outspoken about racism in Australia through her music and performances. She has also been outspoken about the role of women in hip hop and the importance of representation as an African artist on an international stage. Sampa the Great in Instagram and Twitter as @Sampa_The_Great This episode is the last of the special series that we did in partnership with Words Beats & Life. The series was recorded and live-streamed with students in the Hip Hop in Africa class at Howard University and George Washington University.
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Botswana’s “Queen of Rap” Gone too Soon
Earlier this month, 27-year-old artist Sarona “Sasa Klaas” Motlhagodi passed away in a helicopter crash. A musician, actress, and media personality, Sasa Klaas built a reputation as a female rapper, earning herself the title of the “Queen of Rap.” One of Botswana’s most celebrated talents, Sasa was recognized by former Botswana Musicians Union president Pagson
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sampa the great: omg
Sampa The Great‘s “OMG” is a celebration of women and womanhood. Throughout the song, Sampa The Great uses lyrics that amplify the strength, beauty, and power she has. She unapologetically celebrates her life as a woman in Africa empowering the listener with every beat. “Dripped in melanin, galaxy’s finest Put a bit of pressure on
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Skababawara – Don’t Worry About it
GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS MADE BOTSWANA FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOTHING Atlasaone “ATI” Molemogi On 18 June 2020, ATI released his final album, Skababawara, featuring fellow Botswanan rapper Veevo View. Behind the catchy hook and upbeat melody, the two artists promote positivity and encourage change across the country, highlighting the importance of the strength and durability
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The Emerging Young Talent from Botswana: Tay Boz
From Kasane, Botswana, 26 year old Mogomotsi “Tay Boz” Moshongo is the real deal. With a unique flow and lyricism that almost seems unparalleled, Tay Boz is one to look out for in the rap scene. Influenced by rappers such as Busta Rhymes and Tech N9ne, Tay Boz spits hard and he spits fast. But