Often times, we meet individuals in a family who are incredibly talented. These individuals go on to carry their family names and make them proud.
However, in the case of Kunkuru, a family comprised of a couple and their son whose poetry talents cannot go unnoticed, is a rare story.
The Kumakwane family possesses a rare talent that seems might come once in a lifetime and never be replicated, as a wife’s sweet and beautiful ululation, son and father’s talent of playing with their mother tongue has set them on a fame path.
The trio is Kopanang (husband), Lesego Marry (Wife) and Kenneth Warona Tito who is the son.
The Kunkuru family became known at the peak of COVID-19 in 2020 after the son recited the poem about Corona, which was played countless times on RB1. In an interview with the family, they said it was after that Batswana, especially RB1 listeners gave them the name ‘Kunkuru’.
Kopanang, 38, said the poem captured many people’s emotions as it was during the time when COVID-19 ravaged the world and claimed too many lives.
“The radio played this poem countless times because It had verses such as: ‘Letsatsi la tsholofelo le tlaa tlhaba, Corona o tlaa swaba, Corona o tlaa nyelela semmuwane’. The poem was simply meant to console listeners and giving them hope that COVID-19 will varnish and we shall have better days. Batswana then called the poet Kunkuru rather than by his real name and the name Kunkuru originated from that scenario,” explained Kopanang.
In the village, Kopanang is popularly known as Mmadinotshi. He is a poet by nature. He also recited a poem entitled” Seromamowa sa Botswana weee” which is common to most of RB1 listeners. He said he also won the BTC Poetry award on 2019 and won a poetry record deal that had 12-tracked album.
He told Arts & Culture that he has been a Botswana Poetry champion since 2015, 2016 and 2019 under Presidential Arts competitions and even Constituency Arts competitions champion.
Kopanang is also an author. He wrote a Setswana novel titled, “Botshelo Bodiba” La Motsadi Petlwana” published by Macmillan Botswana Company in 2005.
He said he has also written a poetic book entitled “Sepho” published last year by Macmillan.
On the other hand, his wife, a 31-year-old lady from Digawana village describes herself as a “support system to the boys”.
She said she is an ululator (mmamogolokwane) who performs at family events and sometimes with other ululators (bomme ba mogolokwane) during the welcoming ceremonies of presidents in the country.
She also said she was a champion in the constituency competitions when it comes to poetry. She added that she acts as an editor to the novels written by her husband and son.
Their son, 12-year-old boy doing Standard 6 at Kumakwane Primary School, released a six-track album titled Kunkuru weeee.
The talented poet is also an author. He has written a poetry book titled “Ke a Boka” which was also published by Macmillan Company.
He recently performed in Harare, Zimbabwe under CHIPAWO Festival.
