JAZZ SINGER "SHANTI LO" TO TRAVEL WITH REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA DELEGATION TO USA IN JULY 2013

CONTACT: 

BOTSWANA
Geneuvive Twala
Botswana Coordinator – International Men’s Day
E-Mail: imdbotswana@gmail.com

GABORONE, BOTSWANA – 26 JUNE 2013 – He has dazzled audiences with his musical artistry in Stockholm, Sweden and at the Grahamstown Festival in South Africa. He has shared the stage with highly esteemed artists who include South African songbird Zahara and Swedish jazz singer Anna Christofferson. He is jazz singer “Shanti Lo”, born Tumedso Kagisto Loeto to Clifford Loeto and Mpho Loeto, a gospel singer. On 27 July 2013, Shanti Lo will arrive in the United States along with other members of the delegation from the Republic of Botswana which is headed up by Ms. Geneuvive Twala, the Botswana Coordinator for International Men's Day (https://sites.google.com/a/imd-global.org/international-mens-day); architect of the 2012-2022 International Men's Day Ten Year Plan -- which has been adopted by the United States; Founder and Corporate Partnership and Strategy Head of "One Moment, One Action for Youth Association”; and Marketing, Advertising, and Services Manager at Standard Chartered Bank Botswana (http://www.standardchartered.com/bw ). 

Shanti Lo has been performing since the age of 9 when he was a member of the Watoto Band which was a collective of Batswana and South African musicians which was organized by his parents. Shanti Lo's musical recording career spans approximately 13 years. He landed a two year recording contract with Stona Records in 2000 which gave birth to the album, “Koi”, and consisted of a mixture of the local brand of Kwaito. In 2005, the self-titled album, “Shanti Lo” was released by So Hype Records in 2005 which included the hit “Boloi” and Ditshwanelo” which was included in the soundtrack of the film based on Alexander McCall-Smith's “No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” series of novels. A heavy influence of mbaqanga and maskandi beats and melody fused with strong Tswana lyrics are featured on “Ditshwanelo”. Shanti Lo's most recent released recording, “LERATO” was produced by world renowned guitarist John Blackie Selolwane, the lead guitarist for 28 years to internationally acclaimed South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and in American musician Paul Simon's Graceland Tour. When he is not performing, Shanti Lo is conducting music workshops. Currently, Shanti Lo is the music coach for boys and young men who are members of the Botswana Men of Tomorrow Rites of Passage ™ Mentoring Program. 

 During their stay in Washington, D.C. which will end on 2 August 2013, members of the Republic of Botswana delegation will visit historic museums and landmarks; attend a mentoring workshop; and meet with several of their American partners with whom they are collaborating on mentoring and literacy initiatives.

Under Ms. Twala’s leadership, the Botswana Men of Tomorrow Rites of Passage ™ Mentoring Program was launched on 19 November 2012 – International Men’s Day. The mentoring program was first established in the United States and launched on 19 November 2011 – 2011 International Men’s Day by the New Deliverance Evangelistic Church (www.ndec.net) in Richmond, Virginia in the United States in partnership with the former Virginia (USA) Regional Coordinator, Mrs. Odetta Wright. The mentoring program is facilitated in the United States by its Coordinator, Mr. Thomas Powell who works directly with Ms. Twala in implementing the mentoring program in Botswana. In May 2013, Mr. Powell became the Virginia (USA) Regional Coordinator for International Men’s Day. 

Ms. Twala has also launched a multi-tiered Literacy Initiative in Botswana which includes a national writing competition that is designed not only to improve literacy throughout that nation but to also create a generation of accomplished authors. The building of a library in the Southern District of Botswana and a campaign for the donation of books to the library constitute the remaining tiers of the Literacy Initiative. Several of the components of the Literacy Initiative have found support in the United States. IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® (http://globalfatherhooddialogue.blogspot.com), a quarterly international Fatherhood and Men’s Issues Journal – an American publication -- has agreed to publish the essays and poems penned by youth and children in Botswana who are participate in the national writing competition. Diane A. Sears, the Managing Editor of IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® and the USA Coordinator for International Men’s Day has been selected to head up the “Books for Botswana’s Children Campaign” in the United States. Ms. Sears will be working with publishing companies and authors to facilitate the donation of children’s books to the library which is being built in the Southern District of Botswana. 

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