Sounds and instruments of Botswana

Andrew Phakathi is a music teacher in Botswana.  His passion, from the  age of seven, led him to study traditional music at college, which is now his career.

Most of us young men tend to think that culture is not important but personally I'm keeping culture alive, and I urge all our youths to keep our culture

Although Andrew enjoys modern popular music like many young peolpe, his passion lies with the traditional sounds and instruments of Botswana, the music of his forefathers.

Keeping tradition alive

Andrew believes that to live a happy and fruitful life, preserving age old traditions is very important. It is also important, he says, for young people to understand where they come from, to preserve their culture, be proud of it and pass it on.

Andrew tells us: “Music represents the inner you – it comes from the heart.  Music is beautiful.”

Marimba

The children in the video are learning the Marimba, which has been played by the people in Botswana for centuries.

The instrument originates from Zambia and is made from a type of wood which can only be found in that country.  It has been played by the people of Botswana for centuries.

You can tell the children enjoy their music lessons, becasue they want to practice the Marimba after school. They don’t seem concerned they're not listening to modern and hip hop music.