Etsha 6 Junior Secondary School triumphs in the junior secondary schools category at the 2026 Botswana Schools National Music Eisteddfod through commitment, discipline and an inert talent among learners, this past weekend in Gaborone.
Etsha 6 emerged overall winners in the junior secondary schools category, beating Tlokweng Junior Secondary School into second place and Rutwang Junior Secondary School from Tonota into third.
Speaking after the competition, Etsha 6 choral conductor Emmanuel Kgang attributed the school’s success to the commitment of both the learners and their coach.
Kgang said preparing the choir required significant sacrifice, with learners dedicating time to rehearsals beyond normal school hours.
“It’s a matter of commitment from me as the coach and the students at large,” he said.
According to Kgang, some of the learners started with little or no experience in choral music, making the preparation process particularly demanding.
He said he sacrificed considerable time to train the learners, including conducting rehearsals on weekends, despite the challenges associated with running a choir at a boarding school.
Kgang said the school eventually had to rely mainly on boarders for the choir because of limited resources, allowing them to remain available for rehearsals.
He, however, said the experience demonstrated that Etsha 6 has considerable musical talent that needs to be nurtured.
“We have seen that there is a lot of talent here and it needs to be brought up better,” he said.
Beyond the competition, Kgang said participation in the choir had also contributed to improvements in learners’ discipline and confidence.
He said some learners who previously struggled with discipline had become more responsible through their involvement in the programme.
Kgang added that the increased confidence had also translated into the classroom, with learners becoming more comfortable approaching teachers for assistance with their academic work.
He said extracurricular activities such as choral music should therefore be viewed as an important part of learners’ development rather than simply entertainment.
Kgang called on parents and the business community to support school extracurricular programmes, saying additional resources could help schools identify and develop more young talent.
The 2026 Botswana Schools National Music Eisteddfod marked the return of national school music competitions after a prolonged hiatus.
The event brought together learners from across the country and provided a platform for them to showcase their musical abilities and creativity.
In the primary schools category, Mafitlhakgosi Primary School emerged victorious, followed by Tshimoyapula Primary School and Rasesa Primary School in second and third places respectively.
In the senior secondary schools category, Mater Spei College claimed first place, with St Joseph’s College finishing second and Gaborone Senior Secondary School third.
The successful return of the Eisteddfod has renewed attention on the role of music and the arts in developing young talent, building confidence and fostering social cohesion.
