Local jazz veteran Ndingo Johwa has paid tribute to the contribution of immigrants to the growth of the local music industry.

Johwa, one of the most sought after local performers, is associated with; Ugandan Robert Dargie who kick-started his music career more than five years ago.

"Dargie did to local musicians what no local producer had achieved before. I am an example of his contribution to the growth of the local industry although some people would be slow to acknowledge that he helped them a lot', said the Ikalanga jazz legend. Johwa does not only pay tribute to Dargie. Ever since he started live performances after the hit album the Ugandan producer helped him cook, he has over the years swapped one set of Zimbabwean guitarists after the other.

"I have used quite a big number of them in the band over the years. Today I have Zakes Gwaza and Brian Chingu as guitarists, while I play bass. The local industry is starved of players who can perform at the highest level like Zimbabweans, for instance. I am spoilt for choice when it comes to Zimbabwean band players.

I have engaged many of them, as some go back home due to work permits and other reasons, there are always other skillful players to help me in the band." However, Johwa says he has a capable citizen drummer in the band.

Johwa says it is not only in the area of jazz that the immigrants have proved helpful. "Rumba stars rely on the skills of players from the DRC, for instance. And this new blend of dance, house kwasa, which is popular among the youth, also relies on players from the DRC. So the immigrants have contributed in a big way to the local industry," Johwa added.

Another local jazz talent Punah Gabasiane also paid tribute to immigrants for their contribution to the growth of the local music industry. Her newest album is regarded as one of the well-cooked jazz productions ever to come out of the country.

Gabasiane engaged locally based Zimbabwean producer Tendai Kazara, who also arranged the music and played the keyboards. Reuben Sithole and Andrew Chinganga are the other Zimbabweans who played in Gabasiane's latest album, while Kenyan Dan Njoroge also contributed on the keyboards. However, Gabasiane was quick to point out that she also had citizens, such as Tshepo Nyakurai, Enock Piroro, David Skizo Molotsi and Coaster Sephekolo, working on the album.

It is clear from her album though that the influence of the immigrants has been huge with the sounds of East African drums, called the congas, dominant in the production.

The result of the immigrants' contribution, especially the Zimbabweans, in this album is quite fascinating in the sense that the beat is similar to Louis Mhlanga's and Oliver Mtukudzi's music. In fact one could be forgiven for assuming that this album was produced outside Botswana.

Another jazz singer, Nono Siile, who recently released her debut album, also praised the immigrants for their contribution to her music in particular. " They are simply great. Though based in Gaborone, my producer Gavin Banton is a South African. The drummer and saxophone players are both Zimbabweans, and people seem to love their beat in my album. They bring excellence to our music productions", Siile added.