In the wake of the Liquor Act, which revellers imagined would be the end for live music extravaganzas, Streethorn Promotions presents an Afro Jazz Tour that will launch the albums of Sonti Mndebele, Banjo Mosele and Malombo Mmereki.
Mndebele will, on this tour, be promoting her 2nd album, Always Sonti, which is yet to be released.
She first came to Botswana in 1976 as an asylum seeker from then apartheid South Africa. And in the early eighties, a period which saw Batswana musicians, such as Banjo Mosele working with South African exiles Hugh Masekela and Jonas Gwangwa. Sonti Mndebele was constantly featured in line-ups along such artists around Gaborone.
At one time, the entire artist mentioned above moved to London. During this period, it’s mentioned on her biography that she appeared alongside artists as diverse as Peter Gabriel, George Michael, Sting Sade and Chaka Khan. After gaining experience through these performances, she was asked by Masekela to go on Paul Simon’s famed Graceland tour. Currently she resides in the UK.
Banjo Mosele will be launching his Nowa Days album, which was recorded in Botswana. Banjo, who was born in Kanye, is a guitarist, singer and composer, he is an original member of the Kalahari Band that backed Masekela in the eighties. He went on to play guitar on three of Masekela albums, Technobush, Waiting for the Rain and Tomorrow.
Banjo has also toured with Masekela and worked as a session musician alongside Jonas Gwangwa, Peter Gabriel. Bheki Mseleku in the London Music Scene.
Banjo is currently based in Norway where he has performed alongside, Ole Hamre, Olav Dale and kora master, Sanjali Jorbateh, from Gambia.
Malombo Mmereki became popular as the band-leader and lead vocalist of the Botswana Defense Force Band between 1981 and 2004. Previously, he was the vocalist and keyboard player for The Breakers, Imagine and Scarers between 1970 and 1979.
Malombo released his long awaited album, Ga ke Robale, last month. He credits Banjo Mosele and Lekofi Sejeso of encouraging him to finally record the eight track afro jazz/pop album.
The Afro Jazz tour kicked off yesterday, (Saturday, 1st of November) at Thapama Lodge in Francistown, and will today be hosted in Mahalapye’s Khudu Ya Mowana Jazz Garden from 4pm.
The tour will then continue in Gaborone at the Botswana Craft on Friday 7th November and end at Molapowabjang’s RERC Club and Garden the next day.
The tour also features folk guitarist, Stampore, and jazz dj, SK.
For more information call Streethorn 72692401.
