Kast takes Tlatsa Lebala campaign to new heights

Renowned American poet, Maya Angelou has once proclaimed that, “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.

In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” The quote best fits the journey that local muso Tshepiso Molapisi aka Kast has embarked on. It has not been a walk in the park, and the journey has come with many sacrifices and sleepless nights. He truly knows what it takes to climb mountains and come across hurdles and rising from those hurdles. Since he took it upon himself that he wished to pioneer and change the face of local music, he has been the butt of many jokes.

Social media and the naysayers have had a field day denouncing that he is living in a box and that his dream of filling up the National Stadium is just wishful thinking. Over the past week, the passionate singer and activist revealed that he was taking his Tlatsa Lebala campaign to another level.  If all goes according to plan, he will walk 1000 km from Gaborone to Maun this February to raise awareness about the Tlatsa Lebala campaign. The journey will take him two and half weeks to complete. On average, he plans to walk 60km a day.

But once again, some still see this as a way of gaining attention and that nothing will materialise from this noble cause. After all what can he do, after he failed to fulfil his mission of filling up the National Stadium with only local acts? But for him, it is more than that. “Everything that I am doing right now is all about our local music. I hope that my campaign will inspire others and that companies and other stakeholders will start supporting local music,” he says. He is currently looking for sponsors who wish to be part of this life changing campaign. Quizzed on his fitness level and if he has been undergoing any training, he notes that he will be going to the gym to prep his body and mind.

But he also points out that he opted to go extreme as he wishes to prove that he is really serious about his dream of seeing the scales for local music tilting.During the walk, which is organised by his Kast Foundation, he plans to engage village elders and relevant authorities on issues that affect the youth and the music industry, as well as advocate for behavioural change.

As for the Tlatsa Lebala campaign, and the postponement of the show last year, he says that he is almost done with refunding all those who purchased tickets for the show. He also notes that he still dreams and hopes that one of the good days, the National Stadium will be filled to capacity. For him, time is not of the essence, it might not have happened yet and he will still pursue this dream even If it takes him years. “All that I want is for two people to believe in me. I never felt like the event failed, and this is something that I am dedicated to achieving,” he says.

Kast notes that some people still think that he dreams too much but points out that he will do everything that he can in order to get there, and that he is looking into exploring all avenues including raising funds, and working hard to see the dawn of that day when his critics will be silenced.