Gasebalwe Seretse
6 October 2008
Local star, Kabo Leburu, has dropped a hot 10-track jazz album that will get many enthusiasts of the genre going for their dancing shoes.
The album, titled Footsteps, was launched last Friday at Alliance Francaise with Mmegi's news editor Tshireletso Motlogelwa, as the director of ceremonies. Like most jazz album, its strength mostly lies in the instrumentals and this writer found songs with less vocals the most outstanding.
The artist, who is best remembered as the prime tunesmith for the now defunct Dance Afrika, needs no introduction in the music industry having worked with leading artists such as Punah Gabasiane, Tumediso 'Shanti Lo' Loeto, and the contemporary traditional dance group, Machesa.
One of the things that make Footsteps a good album is that the young artist roped in the talents of some of the musical giants in the country such as John Selolwane, Citie Seetso, Lister Boleseng, Tsilo Baitsile and South African Afro-pop singer, Mingy.
According to Leburu, the opening track, which is an intro called Kalahari Bluegrass is a 'finger picking piece inspired by local folk guitarists Andries Bok and Ntona Poifo. The danceable tune has Leburu on the guitar and Kebalefetse Maotwanyane on percussions.
Talking about the second track, Peleng, the artist says it is a location in Lobatse once regarded as one of the most dangerous places in the country. "I was born and bred there," says Leburu. Looking at the work that Leburu put into making Peleng a good piece, it is apparent that he was and still is in love with the once notorious township.
Interestingly, the song Footsteps was inspired by the artist's philosophy of believing that 'in love we get lied to'. The song is one of the most laidback in the album and can be simply described as a song about love gone sour.
Dance Afrika, like the title suggests, is a danceable track and the Leburu says it's a 'celebration song inviting everyone to the dance floor' and indeed, most people at the launch could not resist the temptation to dance the night away as it was playing.
For track five, Meeting With Legends, Leburu collaborated with musicians he describes as legends, such as John Selolwane (solo guitar), Stain Phiri (piano) and Citie Seetso (bass guitar).
Likewise, he featured some of Botswana's musical giants, Lister Boleseng and Tsilo Baitsile in the track Loving You, a love song about a person 'who regrets the past and wishes to be forgiven'.
Baile is a melancholic song that is dedicated to those who have passed on and the guitarist-cum-vocalist reminds his listeners that those who are dead have gone to a better place.
In the song Tsodilo, the artist invites people to visit Tsodilo Hills, which is a world heritage site. The hills are a haven to some of the most ancient San paintings and most beautiful flora and fauna in the country, no wonder it is a world heritage site. A place worth a visit as the artist suggests.
Sejaro is dedicated to the memory of the artist's grandfather who used to practise an African art called bone divination. According to Leburu, Sejaro is a name given to one of the bones used by dingaka, traditional doctors, during divination.
The last song in Footsteps is what the artist calls an outro or Nda Pedza, which in iKalanga means 'I am done'.
Footsteps can be summed up as an attempt by the artist to both pay tribute and emulate those jazz and folk music greats who paved the way for up and coming artists, and he sums this up when he says: "I dedicate this work to all the folk guitarists who have passed on and those who still walk this land with their guitars strapped to their chest."
Leburu greatly excels as both a lead and rhythm guitarist and perhaps in his next album, he should concentrate on this and do less singing.
Footsteps is a must-have album and for a debut album, the artist must be greatly commended.
Given his artistry and age, it is safe to predict that it is a matter of time before Leburu goes international.
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