Chippa Legodimo
28 November 2007
Shumba Ratshega and Gong Master are currently the most popular duo in local music circles, both having just released sizzling borankana albums, which are fast flying off the shelves.
Hardly a week passes without a live performance as promoters hanker for deals with them.
Interestingly, Ratshega believes he is the 'Big Lion' but Gong Master calls himself "Tauya koma" and while it is not very clear who the big one really is one thing for sure is these lions' roars are difficult to ignore.
On Saturday the Zebra Club in Mogoditshane hosted Gong Master's Dumelang launch, with hundreds of music lovers treated to a memorable traditional music night. It was real traditional music galore with a little bit of Afro-pop and Kwasa kwasa. Quite a good number of local traditional groups performed at the show but all interest was on the big lions and they gave the fans more than just their money's worth.
Both Ratshega and Gong Master have tracks called Dumelang and as they took turns on stage, each would first greet the fans with his own. The fun-filled event started slowly with people filtering in at a snail's pace but by midnight the club was packed to capacity. Ratshega once again, proved his popularity, just as he got on stage everybody rushed toward the stage as if they all wanted a piece of him. His fans did not want him to leave the stage despite giving them as many as seven songs, a performance which lasted more than an hour. But if you thought the show had reached its peak with that performance you were wrong. Gong Master got onto the stage with his band, dressed in national colours - black, blue and white track suits with the same colour caps. Many had expected them to be clad in traditional attire and almost everybody was asking themselves if they would perform in that attire. But it was just their style, they played Dumelang and half way through, disappeared backstage.
Just a few minutes later they emerged in skins and beads and the real performance started. Once again the track Dumelang kicked off their performance and the fans went wild. After a few more songs Tau ya Koma took its cubs backstage again, while the fans shouted for more. Other groups like Sebabatsane, Maletangwao from Mafikeng, South Africa, Qani, Ditiro Leero and Extra Melody got their chance. Qani, who does traditional Sesarwa music and dance, was not that welcome by the fans. Sebabatsane worked hard to convince the masses that they are capable of doing just like Ratshega and Gong Master but while they could not match the lions they obviously gave a good account of themselves.
Leero, a former member of Matsieng, obviously still has much to do for the fans to believe that like Gong Master he can succeed on his own. Perhaps his inspiring performance had much to do with the fact that he performed while only a handful of revellers had come. Ratshega and Gong Master returned again in the early hours of the morning and once again the fans proved that they had were there to see the two giants in action. There were no signs of fatigue and calls for more.But a few fans were disappointed that Ratshega, who normally puts on his tshega during live performances, chose to put on blue short pants together with his band members. Next time he should seriously consider the idea because that is where he got his name and many people like to see him appear like that. A notable absentee at the launch was Dikakapa, Gong Master's former group who were also billed to perform at the show. They were reported to be in Oodi for another show after agreeing to "help" their former lead vocalist at the launch.
Gong Master was clearly disappointed as he told Showbiz: "These people are clearly fighting me. I thought we parted ways in good spirit but I can see there is a fight. They agreed to perform at my show but said at the last minute that they were not coming and what can I say."
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