Lekopanye Mooketsi
2 November 2009
Gaborone — Four women of jazz staged a memorable show at the Botswana Marketing Craft's courtyard on Saturday evening.
The four Afro jazz queens - Punah Gabasiane, Nono Siile, Nnunu Ramogotsi and Kearoma Rantao - indeed gave a performance of their lives.
This time around the songbirds were also singing for a worthy cause. Part of the proceeds from their show were to be donated to the Cancer Association of Botswana.
The concert was also dedicated to the cancer movement. Officials of the Cancer Association of Botswana were given time to promote awareness about cancer during the concert. They also distributed pamphlets and shared information with the patrons.
The divas themselves were dressed in pink, which is the colour for the cancer movement. Actually, the artists were spreading a cancer message through a song.
Although this was a music concert, the revellers were able to learn more about the various cancers, especially breast cancer.
First artist to take on the stage was Nono. Nono did not start by belting out the Afro jazz stuff. She did a rendition of Killing Me Softly - and it went down well with the audience. After this song, she went to the main course that she is renowned for. One of the songs that she came up with was Ngwanyana. Just like the other artists who were to come after her, Nono was in her element.
Nono also played a song by her late mentor, Duncan Senyatso. Nono and the other jazz divas were backed by New Vibe Band. This time the sound equipment was perfect. During the first set, Nono performed about four songs.
Next on the stage was the "sensational" Punah as one local politician refers to the jazz queen. As usual, Punah did her own thing, much to the amazement of the audience. She was joined by male dancers who were dressed in the 60s' Sophiatown style. She was singing the traditional songs that she has improvised.
Kearoma, who performed after Punah, did not lower the standards. Actually she took the level of the show a notch up.
Kearoma is definitely a star in the making. She belted out songs from her forthcoming album. From what she was playing, surely it is going to be a great album. She was singing about Mayibuye Afrika which is going to be a hit track.
Kearoma has a South African township influence. She is modelled along the likes of Letta Mbulu and the late Miriam Makeba.
The fourth jazz queen, Nnunu also put up a brilliant performance. It seems the girls had rehearsed well for the occasion. Nnunu came up with her dazzling compositions, which had the audience eating from her palm.
But the show was not over until the jazz divas performed jointly in the grand finale.
This was the best part of the show as they brought down the house. They took the concert by storm as they were humming favourite Afro jazz tunes. They were given a standing ovation after the show.
Speaking after show, Punah said she was happy with the support that people gave them. She said the show was a success, more importantly that they were doing it for a worthy cause.
Punah said artists should also engage in charity programmes. "We want to pay back to the society. Batswana need awareness on health and other related issues," she said.
Some of the sponsors of the concert were: Authentic Sounds, Cresta President Hotel, Kwena Rocla, Monitor, GabzFM, Phakalane Estates, The Voice, Choppies, G4 Security and fashion designer, Thabiso Dibeela. Gaborone Central Member of Parliament (MP) Dumelang Saleshando also made a contribution.
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