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Botswana: Veteran Keyboard Star Sejeso Goes Cabaret
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
27 March 2008
Posted to the web 28 March 2008
Lekopanye Mooketsi
Gaborone
Keyboard virtuoso Lekofi Sejeso of the "Ama basket" fame is now staging cabaret shows. Sejeso is based at the Grand Palm in Gaborone where he performs every evening with Afro pop singer Nnunu Ramogotsi.
Their band plays in the Kalahari cocktail bar. Sejeso reflected that when they started to play at Grand Palm towards the end of last year, things were a bit quiet. However, he said, the show is gaining momentum.
Over the weekends, they are hired by other local groups. The duo used to perform at O'Hagans restaurant at Game City but their contract has since expired. On Sunday, they were part of the line-up of Punah Gabasiane's band, which gave a sterling performance at the Millennium Jazz Restaurant in Mogoditshane. Sejeso said he is going to work on other music projects including producing for other musicians. He featured in Skizo's album and has also done jobs for Mud Hut studio. "I have done a lot of projects for Mud Hut," said the mild mannered muso. Sejeso intends to release his long awaited album before the end of the year. The album will include tracks by his old defunct group, Afro Sunshine band that used to be one of the most popular groups in the country. He is trying to raise funds for the project. He said he has already compiled material for the album.
"I have already identified musicians who will be involved in the recording," he said. He added that other artistes like Citie Seetso have started to practise songs to prepare for the recording. "The songs are finished, it is only a matter of getting them into the studio," he said, adding that all his focus is on his album. "I only need to raise funds to pay musicians taking part in the project. I hope I will have something before the end of this year," he said.
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Sejeso said he had failed to record in the past because of the problems that he was faced with as an artiste. He said he has gone through a hard time. "I have gone through thick and thin throughout my life," he said. What is more saddening is that other musicians who he would have wanted to record with have died, thereby derailing his plans. "The departure some other musicians affected my career. But I think I am more focused than before in terms of music," said the keyboard wizard. Sejeso is probably one of the oldest surviving musicians, having been in the industry since the 70s. His first band was the Incrowds. Other defunct old groups that he played for include Imagine, Mother and Kalahari. He formed Kalahari with the likes of John Selolwane.
But it was during his time with Afro Sunshine band that Sejeso made his name as an ace keyboard master. Afro Sunshine became a household name in the country in the late 80s and early 90s. The group released the album This is Afrika, which includes popular tracks like Ama basket. After the demise of the group, Sejeso relocated to his hometown, Lobatse, and literally went into oblivion. When he came back from music exile, he formed another group, Just Friends. But he also played with other local groups like Abraxas.
Lekofi has also recorded an album for the Botswana Football Association (BFA), which is dedicated to the national team, the Zebras. The hits from the album have become popular especially when the Zebras are playing.
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