Gaborone’s assortment of virtuoso and beginner musicians met at BotswanaCraft last year, to discuss the local music circuit’s landscape, playing techniques and trade tips at a workshop facilitated by South Africa-based, Zimbabwean guitarist, Louis Mhlanga.
Mhlanga, who is a self-taught instrumentalist, is known for the Shona mbira patterns he has adapted to his guitar playing technique. The workshop that was coordinated by Street Horn and sponsored by the Department of Culture and Youth, was well received by the attendant musicians who said they had long awaited an event of its kind.
On Thursday, Soares Katumbela, who is Street Horn’s head, announced to The Sunday Standard that this year Street Horn and the Department of Culture and Youth collaborated again. This time, musicians based in Francistown will have the opportunity to workshop with Louis Mhlanga and his band of reputable instrumentalists at Marang Hotel on the Friday, August 3.
Katumbela says Francistown musicians must bring their desire to learn and musical instruments to the workshop, where they will interact with Basi Mahlasela (percussion), Randall Skippers (keyboards), Michael Phillips (Bass), Sello Montwedi (drums) and Louis Mhlanga’s manager Jerry Nkuna.
The one-day workshop will be followed by an African Jazz Dinner at the same venue on Saturday, which will feature the BDF Dance Band and DJ SK playing jazz at intervals.
The tickets for the dinner are available at Marang Hotel and to register for the music masterclass workshop call Street Horn at 72962401.
