Chippa Legodimo
12 March 2009
After Dikakapa and their former lead singer Gong Master (Mponang Ketshabile) parted ways two years ago, rumours started doing rounds that they were not on good terms.
The absence of Dikakapa at Gong Master's album launch after they were invited further fuelled speculation that the group was still angry with him.
There are all the signs of relations not being good between the artists though they now deny any 'beef' ever existed between them.
Now many would be stunned to learn that Gong Master has been featured in Dikakapa's new album due for release in a few days time. The piece ofnews is also a welcome development to the fans as the move offers them yet another opportunity to listen to the 'real' Dikakapa complete with Gong Master.
The voluble musician sings in the track Senuthu as well as Selempu remix. Selempu was Dikakapa's debut album title.
Ketshabile told Showbiz that he was excited to be working with his former group again.
"I am very excited because although I have done well as a solo musician I still miss what we had as a group. It clearly shows how united the both of us are despite me going solo.
I felt so good in the studio doing those two songs," Ketshabile said.
Although he denied leaving the group out of frustration, Ketshabile conceded that he was not happy when they did not appear at his show.
"I was not happy at what they did then, but that did not mean that we could not work together. We have always been good together that is why we were so hot in our first album. Being part of their new project is one of those things than make me very happy," he said.
One member of Dikakapa, Moagi 'Jumbo' Lekone is also ecstatic about the whole thing.
"It is an honour to have featured him. This man knows his stuff, he has such a unique voice, which makes a simple song sound sweet, He is talented and always puts his mind to what he is doing," Lekone told Showbiz. According to him, Ketshabile has always been an inspiration to the group. He noted that it was not easy for them to part ways with their most popular member though they were positive that the group would survive in his absence.
"He has such a powerful personality, but we did not panic when he left because we knew that the group was not only about one person. We have grown since he left hence our nomination for a Kora award, but he now brings his experience and creativity back to us in the new album and we are happy for that," Lekone said.
"He actually joined us when the album was almost done and after listening to the songs and grasping the concept he did not even write anything, just went into th studio and added his lines, which surprisingly have fused well with the other voices. He is a genius no one can take that from him," he said.
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