It is a year ago, July 2015 to be precise, that Vusi Mtokufa set the GICC alight with a mesmirising performance that our sister publication, The Telegraph, aptly described as undoubtedly the best ever live feat by a local artist.
It was a night the gospel star raised the bar a few notches up and delivered the kind of stuff most had only seen on television.
The lighting and sound were impeccable. The stage was just right for the occasion. The band was magnificent. The wardrobe exquisite! The music was inspirational. The audience was lifted spiritually. And the whole night was just out of Botswana.
There was no better way Botswana’s one-time favourite gospel ‘kid’ could have re-introduced himself to his loyal fans.
Until August 20, 2016 when the CD and DVD to the performance shall be launched, only those who were present on that blissful Friday night will relive the enactment.
But why take this long to release the recording? “We had to take this long because we did not want to deliver a half-baked project,” says BRAVE HEART director Joe Manuel. The sound, lighting, stage, AV, rigging and power company is behind the live recording.
“It has been all about perseverance and hard work; draining at times,” he says. He says they had to take the recordings to South Africa’s SABC studios for overdubbing. Manuel told Lifestyle that through their partnership with Vase they intend to prove to the nation and beyond that Botswana can also come up with productions of international standards. The CD and DVD are ready for public consumption and the time is ripe to host an even bigger event to introduce the new offering to Batswana.
The launch is scheduled for Stanbic Bank Molapo Piazza where Manuel says Vuse himself will hand out his first CD and DVD. He says given Vuse’s following and the support he has been receiving from social media they expect a sold-out show.
“I’m very excited. This is going to be an awesome event; an album launch that does not only change the face of my music but that of the nation as a whole,” Vusi told the media on Tuesday when introducing the media to the upcoming VUSI CD & DVD Release & Launch.
“This is a true blessing to us and to everyone that continues to embrace Gospel music as a gift from God.” The 24-year-old says it is a dream come true for him and would like to encourage the public to reserve the date for the event. “The bible says iron sharpened iron and my greatest aspiration is to make a positive impact in many lives with the help of BRAVE HEART, and bring many to greatness and success. The presence of God is always awesome,” said Vusi, also a church minister who recently founded the International Grace Centre.
He says the launch will present a platform for good music from a great team and everybody will leave the place blessed and happy. Vusi first burst into the limelight in 2005 as a 13-year-old skinny teenager with the song set off and instantly became a hit with gospel music lovers. He was a kid then, innocent, talented and soft-spoken which easily made him the darling of the local gospel fans.
In an Interview with The Telegraph last year Vusi credited BRAVE HEART for his return to the music industry. He said he had had a stint with the company before and when they called him in early 2015 with a live recording proposal, he could not resist.
“They saw the potential in me and when that call came I knew it was time,” he said. Tickets for the event go for P100 at all Webtickets outlets.
