It will be ‘The day of the sons’ on August 18 when renowned recording artistes, Zimbabwe’s Oliver Mtukudzi and South Africa’s Steve Dyer team up with Botswana musicians, Lister Boloseng and Rampholo ‘Chumza’ Molefhe to usher Botswanacraft patrons out of the bitter cold of winter to celebrate the warmth of the outdoors.
According to the management of Botswanacraft, the evening festivities will also feature Dyer’s son, Bokani, who exhibits all the attributes of being a future voice on the piano. Mtukudzi’s son, Sam, has already started to carve himself a niche on the popular music market in Zimbabwe.
According to Molefhe, “The actual programme has not yet been yet been finalised but it will not be the first time that I collaborate with Steve. We were together at Shakawe when he and Jonas Gwangwa were still in exile here in Botswana, so he is familiar with my music.
“More recently he and Gwangwa invited me to South Africa where we played at the Johannesburg museum and art gallery in celebration of artist, Thami Mnyele’s life and work. We have never done ‘Thermo’ together, which an original composition of mine which I have given the name of my son.
“I’m hoping that I can persuade Steve and the organisers to allow me to do that song and another that is more familiar to them titled ‘Pitse ya Naga’ which I have always imagined as a signature song for the Botswana National Museum and Art Gallery though I also dedicate it to the great poet Keorapetse Kgositsile who is for all intents and purposes my uncle, in addition to be an artistic inspiration.
“Let me just promise that you might hear a bigger sound on the twenty eighth if things go as I contemplate,” says Rampholo.
“We also come a long way with Lister though he beat me to making an album. All of Botswana knows what to expect from him. He is one of the bright lights of Botswana’s future music,” Molefhe says.
It will not be the first time that Steve and Mtukudzi collaborate in concert or on record. Steve Dyer spent some time in Zimbabwe when it became uncomfortable to stay in Botswana after the infamous June 14 South African Defence Force raid on Gaborone in 1985.
There he formed the ensemble called Southern Freeway where he played concerts with Mtukudzi and Black Spirits.
They have also been known to work together on Mtukudzi’s recordings, several of which were recorded at Steve’s recording studio in South Africa.
Some of Harare’s prominent musicians, among them Tendai Mataure and Never Mpofu will also be on stage to contribute to the grand finale which will have all the artists performing together, according to Botswanacraft.
Tickets were scheduled to be on sale starting on the Monday 17 August.
