SONNY SERITE
Sensational South African music icon Yvonne Chaka Chaka performed at Botswana Craft in Gaborone this past weekend and left her legion of fans asking for more at a show that was organised by the Waar Was Jy Oldies Series. The legendary singer, popular for her hit songs, ‘I’m Burning Up’ and ‘Thank You Mr Dj’, revealed in a media briefing prior to her performance that she only agreed to come to Botswana and perform for free after the organizers told her that all proceeds will be donated to charity.
According to the organizers, the show intended to raise P100.000 for the Botswana Society for the Deaf (BSD) schools in Ramotswa and Francistown. The Chairperson of the Board of Directors at BSD Dr Kerileng Mpuang thanked Chaka Chaka and the organizers for their gesture of benevolence and said the donation will go a long way in addressing some of the Society’s needs such as the construction of a hostel block for students. Chaka Chaka has even pledged to donate computers and cellphones to Society of the Deaf through her charitable organisation Princess of Africa Foundation.
The 53 year old singer from Dobsonville did not disappoint on Friday as she belted out her popular songs much to the delight of her followers who had thronged Botswana Craft in large numbers. Defying her age, Chaka Chaka danced throughout her performance and connected very well with her audience as she kept addressing them in Setswana.
According to one of the organizers, Motshidisi Bowsky Motota, the show was the success they had hoped for. ‘‘We are grateful to Yvonne Chaka Chaka for acceding to our request to come and be a part of this noble initiative to help the kids at the Society for the Deaf,’’ he said.