"TSWANA traditional music is a beautiful way of showcasing the rich cultural heritage."
These were the words of award-winning songwriter and singer Nanas Phiri from Signal Hill Village outside Mahikeng, North West.
Nanas believes that language is a powerful thread that connects different cultures.
Last month, Nanas received her first-ever award at the PanSALB Multilingualism Awards held at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.
“I feel that I'm growing. I feel that there's something right that I'm doing because somebody somewhere is looking at me. This encourages me to push more as a woman,” she said.
Nanas calls on music artists not to shy away from their mother tongues for foreign languages when they make their music.
“I want to see Tswana music making headlines. We grew up being called banyana ba makgabe, [a traditional clothing for young girls, a string dress-like covering]. I want to show people we can be clean and beautiful, and that Setswana can pay you. You can put food on the table and feed your family with Setswana. I want to spread my message with music using my mother tongue," she said.
Nanas said the music industry is evolving and adopting new sounds, but preserving linguistic heritage remains a top priority for local artists like her.
“I'm a proudly Tswana woman who is proud of her mother tongue. That's why I sing in the language, because I don't think that the mostly used English language is any better,” she said.
The singer stated that she started pursuing music from a young age.
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She was 14 years old when she joined the Mmabana traditional dance group as a dancer.
Nanas formed part of different Tswana traditional groups before going solo in 2018.
“I felt I was a grown-up and decided to be a solo artist. I started by first registering a company called Nana's Productions."
She revealed that her career took off in 2023 when she became a recorded artist and produced singles such as O Dumeletswe and Molodi Wa Koma.
The singer, who comes from humble beginnings, said: “My mother used to sell sweets and chips at the school gate but never made us feel like we were not having enough. We did not have much at home, but I felt the warmth and love that kept me going."
Her dream is to see herself having an entertainment centre, especially in her home village.
“There's a lot of talent here, and unfortunately, they [young people] don't have a place to go. My dream is to see Nanas Productions nurture up-and-coming artists.”
The Tswana music singer is already working with big names in studios and said her fans should watch the space.
