The Rise and Rise of Berry Heart by Tshiamo Leaketsa

 

 

 

The Rise and Rise of Berry Heart

By Tshiamo Leaketsa

Berry Heart born, Keotshepile Motseonageng, on the 19^th of December 1987, is a performing artist: poet, singer, actress, dancer and image model. Her first single album, Mama, was produced in Germany by Daniel Schmidt of Chabreteure Productions in 2008. During her stay in Germany, she had a collaboration with a German Band One Day trip and they shared the stage countless times.

Berry heart who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts (English), a certificate in German and an International Diploma in French, from Alliance Francaise, released her first poetry album, in 2011, a production titled, Giving Birth to Love. The poems are done over a melodic and mellow instrumental resembling the likes of Thandiswa Mazwai and Mzwaki Mbuli.

As the rising star of Botswana, Berry Heart has captivated the hearts of Batswana by her bold African looks and talent, which made her our top local newsmakers of 2011 especially her ‘seductive’ video, Taste of Love, which she argues ‘it’s not nudity it's art.’ For the rest of 2011-2012 she performed at corporate and social events like weddings and parties. She is a women and children’s rights activist who works closely with the Women’s Affairs Department and its stakeholders. On the 25th of November 2011, Berry Heart staged a live poetry performance as an activity for the 16 days of activism against violence on women and children. Quite as well, she was working with the Women’s Affairs Department and the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs in the first annual Pitso of the 16 days. As a poet she compiled poetry pieces especially based on the themes of the 16 days.

She made it to My African Dream top 8 with her band, Quest. Berry Heart is the first lady in Botswana to have a poetry organization called, Poetry for Thought. It is an organization made for young poets who write poetry focusing on intellectual themes of matters concerned. This organization is especially focused on improving the lives of the youth, women and children.

Heart was a protagonist for a theatre piece, titled, The Rebirth of an Ostrich. The theatre production was directed by, Moratiwa Molema, a pentatonic theatre piece which stole the hearts of many including the media at Maitisong festival for the 19^th of April 2011.

Heart and her band also took part in the prestigious event, the Fete de la Musique festival. A festival which began in France in the 70s and later spread to other countries. The idea was first introduced in 1976 by American Musician Joel Cohen, and then employed by the national French radio station France Musique. Cohen proposed all night celebration at the moment of the summer solstice.

On March 2011, Berry Heart proved herself not only as a poet but as a performer of international celebre when she lit the stage with an unforgettable and rather mesmerizing performance at the annual International Poetavango’s International Poetry Festival held in Maun. Many media houses referred to her as a female youth with flair and an educational approach that could teach followers of her art, the cultural heritage through poetry and raise awareness on outstanding feminist issues.

Poetavango is a Maun based poetry group which annually ensemble some of the outstanding and finest performers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Touching once again on Heart’s contribution to the 16 days of activism against women and children violence, she staged a live poetry performance at Maharaja Conference Centre on the 25th November 2011 as an activity for the 16 days.

What marked a difference between her and other poets who, rather, gave speech poetry, was that her performance was a combination of drama, dance and poetry infused by certain of our cultural aspects. Most of her rather sad poems were interpreted through acting with a lot of emotions. Her performance took the audience to another level depending on whether it was a sad or contented poem.

Berry Heart is still making her mark in the industry and is still on the fight for children and women’s rights.

She is currently the reigning and first ever Miss BOMU 2012 and she was nominated for a BOMU award for Best Folk alongside Benson Phuthego.