The recent award that the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) bestowed on veteran muso Malombo Mmereki was in recognition of his immense contribution to local music.

Mmereki was one of the winners at the recent glamorous BOMU awards held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC).

Bra Malombo still cherishes that Saturday night of the awards when he marched to the podium as his name was announced as one of the winners. It was a turning point in his music career.

The BOMU awards might not be carrying huge financial rewards for the artists but it is a huge honour to receive one.

After close to four decades in the music industry, Mmereki's efforts are beginning to be recognised.

Mmereki said he was delighted to receive the BOMU award for the best Afro jazz album. What makes him more grateful is that this was his debut solo album. He feels that the award could take him places. It could also assist to market his music. To him, the award is a sign that people appreciate what he is doing.

Actually things have been hectic for the veteran muso since he received the music award. He recently participated at the Africa nights show held at the Botswana Marketing Craft. This week, Mmereki was busy rehearsing for a Francistown weekend show with the Unity Band. The Francistown concert is meant to raise funds for the John Mackenzie School. He is also planning to perform in Maun on December 5.

Mmereki is an unsung hero of local music. He is one of the pioneers of local music but for a long time, he has not been given the recognition that he deserves.

Bra Malombo is one of the country's old musicians who used to be referred to as "bomasekanta". During the old days, music was not taken as a serious profession.

Mmereki was one of the few local musicians who have managed to make something out of music. He even joined the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) where he left as a commissioned officer.

Bra Malombo played for some of the old groups before he joined the army. That was during the time when musicians were paid peanuts. In fact the old musicians were only playing out of their passion and not for money.

Mmereki's first group was the Gaborone band, the Originals, which was formed in 1972. Four years later he joined another popular Gaborone group, the Scarers. All the old groups that he played for are now defunct. He was recruited by the BDF in 1979 where he helped to establish musical groups. He was later sent to study music in the United States of America (US).

He was the mastermind behind the BDF groups. While he was in the army he established the BDF band, which has become popular throughout the country.

He was the front man for the BDF band, playing with the likes of Tsilo Baitsile. Bra Malomobo is so versatile that he could do any genre. During the initial days of the BDF band, they used to sing cover songs of foreign bands.

The BDF band was one of the first groups in the country to record an album. Other than the original BDF pop band, Mmereki also formed BDF groups B, C and D. When he was playing for the BDF band, he was usually doing the vocals.

Mmereki has since retired from the army at the rank of Captain. But the one thing that he would not retire from is music. So he has been jamming with a number of local groups since he left the army. He has also been working on his solo projects.

Mmereki has released his solo album entitled Ga ke robale. It is this album that earned him the BOMU award.

He also featured on Banjo Mosele's album, Nowadays, with the hit song, Ntsa e jele ntsanyana. He is doing the vocals on this track. You should watch Bra Malombo doing this track on DVD.

Bra Malombo is always sharing the stage with Banjo when the Norwegian based artist is in the country.

But Bra Malombo wants to be recognised as an artist in his own right. One of the venues where he has been staging shows is at the Millennium Jazz Restaurant.