Lekopanye Mooketsi
3 December 2008
The newly-elected chairperson of the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU), Socca Moruakgomo raised eyebrows for using a South African backing band during the Afro Jazz Festival held at the Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Besides the foreign backing band, Moruakgomo also featured South African vocalist, Coyote and Nigerian based South African guitarist, Kunle in his act. Other than himself, the only locals in Moruakgomo's band on Saturday were backing dancers/singers Nnunu Ramogotsi and Lesedi Mooketsi.
Some musicians charged that Moruakgomo does not want to work with locals as he prefers South Africans. One musician said it was disappointing that despite being a BOMU official, Moruakgomo does not lead by example.
But Moruakgomo, who plays the trumpet, defended himself, labelling his accusers as naive.
He stated that his recording company in South Africa recommended that his first show after the studio, should be with the band that he recorded with. Moruakgomo has released a new album entitled Your smile.
He said he recorded with South African artists because "it is cheaper to use them when you are in that country". He maintains that it could have been costly to take local artists with him to South Africa. "I can't take a local group with me to America because it is expensive," he said.
He said when he toured the Caribbean Islands he engaged artists from those countries because he could not afford the costs of taking a local band.
Moruakgomo said it is easier to perform with the band that you recorded with "because they know the songs and are original". But during the Saturday show, Moruakgomo also played songs like Wena from his earlier albums.
He also preferred the South Africans because they are professionals. "They are ready to work. I work with people who are willing to deliver," he said.
He said when you engage foreign artistes, it depends on the type of album that you are working on. "You have to look at the concept of the album and say 'I need this kind of musician'."
Moruakgomo said if you just pick anyone, it would be like leaving a professional and hiring somebody without a licence to drive. It's risky.
He said he does not compromise when it comes to his music. He added that if the budget allows him, he does not mind roping in foreign artists. Being BOMU president, he said, does not mean that he is going to compromise the quality of his music. "I work with people who are going to deliver," he said.
He described the standard of music in South Africa as highly advanced, adding that Batswana have much to learn from that country. He said in the past he had called locals for rehearsals, but they failed to turn up.
He said when he invites artists for rehearsals they run away because they cannot manage.
Moruakgomo said when he brings South Africans, there are certain things that members of his local band learn from them.
In his view, local musicians are not professional. "They are lazy," he said.
He said they need professionals to motivate them. He intend to propose to BOMU to bring international musicians to conduct workshops as a way to upgrade the standard of local music.
But Moruakgomo said he is always willing to work with anyone. At the time of the interview, he said, he was rehearsing with his local band.
Moruakgomo said he is doing his recording in South Africa where there are professional studios. He said the recording budget for his new album was around P200, 000. "Who can handle that? Only a professional company can handle that kind of job."
He said in Botswana, recording studios charge as little as P8,000. He added that it is the kind of money that you pay as a session fee to one artist in South Africa.
He would rather stay without recording for five years than to use cheap facilities.
As the new BOMU chairperson, he intends to agitate for proper facilities in Botswana. He said there are many local artists who are good, but are let down by poor facilities. He noted that the standard of artists like Punah Gabasiane is high, but the quality of recording facilities available locally is poor.
Moruakgomo feels he is the one who has been at the receiving end because he has always been willing to work with local artists, but they have been snubbing him. "I should be the one complaining that people never invite me. I have played with almost everyone," he said.
He said even during the jazz festival, he spoke to the organisers to include many local artists. He said this is what they are going to advocate for at future gigs.
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