Legora la Mmino cultural group has been nominated in the Best Setswana Artist/Group category in the 16th SA Traditional Music Achievement Awards.
LEGORA la Mmino cultural group from Jan Kempdorp has been nominated as the Best Setswana Artist/Group in the 16th South African Traditional Music Achievement (SATMA) Awards 2021.
The renowned SATMA awards ceremony is set to be held in Mpumalanga in November.
Legora la Mmmino, led by 25-year-old Palesa Siwa, who is the lead singer of the group, consists of eight members.
The cultural group was established in 2019 by Siwa and her fellow group members with the aim of promoting Setswana music through singing and dancing.
According to Siwa, the group also aimed to promote rehabilitation among the youth and to keep them away from social ills.
Jan Kempdorp is among a number of small towns in the Northern Cape that face challenges of substance and alcohol abuse and crime and a lack of rehabilitation centres.
“I decided to utilise my experience of being a cultural performer by spreading it to my peers and my community,” says Siwa. “I grew up loving cultural activities, since my primary school years at Jan Kempdorp Primary. I continued to be active in the activities at my high school, Tlhwahalang High.”
Siwa said they mostly perform at local shows and at private events. Their first formal performance was when they featured in the first Northern Cape Awards that were held in Kimberley in 2020.
The group has also featured in various music videos, including for well-known Botswana artists like Phongo, Rampaetshetlha and Casper the Golden Voice.
Siwa said their greatest achievement thus far was winning the Best Dancer award in a music and dance competition in Taung in 2020.
Siwa said they are “humbled” to be representing the Northern Cape at the upcoming SATMA Awards.
She added that they have also been overwhelmed by the support that they have been getting locally and from artists around the Province.
They will be hosting a ‘Road to SATMA’ show in John Daka, Kimberley on November 20, where various artists from the Province will be performing.
She said the proceeds raised from the ticket sales will be used to “increase the votes” for the group.
“The support is amazing from my community and fellow artists. We already have more than 15 artists who are confirmed for the line-up on the day. There are still more groups who are in the process of registering to support our cause,” said Siwa.
People can vote for Legora la Mmino via SMS on SATMA253.
