Psycho Kings' hard work catapults them to dance glory
The high unemployment rate among youth has challenged them to use their artistic talents to put bread on the table instead of whining and complaining about the situation.
A group of young men who go by the name Psycho Kings have excelled in this regard and are taking their dance craft to another level. Comprised of Duncan Nkitseng, Tefo Bome, Bokamoso Morekisi and Tshepo Ntshutelang, the Psycho Kings are proving to all and sundry that dance is a formidable art that can keep youth busy and accord them a respectable income.
Their style of dance is called sbujwa. It originates from the dance Afro bujwa but unlike Afro bujwa, sbujwa is energetically fast-paced. The members met at a dance competition in 2013; two were dancing for the then Psycho Kings and two for another rival group. After the competition, they broke away from their groups and formed the now Psycho Kings.
They have participated in My African Dream talent show, danced for artists in BangGae! stable, and are the winners of Season 1 of dance competition, Street Jive. Internationally, they have worked with Vukani Khoza and Mr Style. Currently they are working with Vee for the launch of his album, ‘I do.’Gouveia Mutusa, popularly known as DJ Gouveia sings praises about this group, saying that they have an impressive work ethic. “They are the most professional and hardworking dance group I have ever worked with,” he said.
The group members are quite disciplined. They practice daily and honour appointments. To make things easier as most of their gigs are in the city, they recently moved to Gaborone from Kanye where they all hail from. “It is easier to be in Gabs. Commuting sometimes becomes strenuous on our bodies and finances. For example during the UB Face Carnival 2016, we had a tight schedule and had to be around the city,” they explain.
Psycho Kings do not take their dancing as a hobby; to them it is a business that they have chosen as the source of their income. At the beginning of each year they sit down and set collective goals as a group. They also insist that their clients sign contracts, which outline their terms and conditions before they work. But contracts do not always guarantee that they will be paid, as they have learned from experience. They lament that one of their challenges is dealing with clients who do not honour their end of the deal but they have taken this as a learning curve.
Psycho Kings would like to open a dance academy in the foreseeable future. They would also like to take their craft to rural areas and unearth talent among young people and show them that it is possible to make a living from dance. The group would also like to see a dance category added to the annual President’s Day competitions. They advise dancers to be unique, to set them apart from the rest.