The larger than life Mphakathi was a rare species of a self-instructed promoter, moved by a total commitment to the arts and the crafts and the people who made it.
Mphakathi managed Phillip Tabane and his group that came to be popularly known as Malombo in the 1960s. The group that included drummer Julian Bahula and flutist Abe Cindi caused a sensation at the Castle Lager sponsored jazz festival in Mamelodi in the 1960s where they took first place among a multitude of mainstream oriented jazz bands.
Their music, inspired by the more primitive Pedi based style of Malopo, captured the imagination of the audience and judges alike. Malombo was a radically new ‘jazz’ voice. Bra Geoff then managed Malombo’s protégés who went by the name of Dashiki. This ensemble included vibraphonist, Oupa Mokou and drummer Lefifi Tladi, also a poet, sculptor and graphic artist.
Mokou and Tladi were forced into exile in Botswana where they were joined by Bonjo Keipidile, Thabiso Leshoai and Rampholo Molefhe to continue the tradition of Dashiki. Jonas Gwangwa later joined Dashiki in the late 1970s and the group evolved to be called Shakawe.
Mphakathi visited Botswana on several occasions and continued to inspire the troupe and Tladi in particular. Tladi and Mphakathi collaborated to organise exhibitions of South African artists at the National Museum and Art Gallery in Gaborone.
Among the artists who benefited from Bra Geoff’s tireless work were Motlhabane Mashiangwako, Winston Saoli, the late Fikile Mgadlela and Harry Moyaga who is now resident in Manchester, United Kingdom.
Tladi’s thirst for further instruction in the graphic arts took him to Sweden where he now resides. This Day reports that at the time of his death, Bra Geoff was on the third day of shooting a film documentary Giant Steps: a portrait of Lefifi Tladi
Born on February 4 1940, Bra Geoff established the Jazz appreciation Society in the late 1960s. In the 1970s he established several temporary art galleries that exhibited the works of a broad spectrum of South African artists.
He continued his work in the 1980s through the establishment of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Artists.
He staged art exhibitions in Holland, Sweden, Russia and the United States. Bra Geoff published two books, Lesego Rampolokeng’s Black Heart and Laduma by A K Thembeka after establishing the publishing house, MK Media early this year.
Before his untimely death, Bra Geoff had wanted to re-publish House of Bondage, Ernest Cole’s photographic comment on apartheid.
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The D’Kar based troupe of Basarwa traditional dancers visited Norway at the end of July. They toured the country and Europe from the beginning of August. The group was widely acclaimed as one of the most exciting at the annual cultural festival of folk and traditional arts.
The festival showcases the arts as expressed in the various traditions of indigenous peoples of the world. The festival, described as the ‘largest and most expressive’ of the cultures of the indigenous peoples by president of the SAAMI council, Geir Pederson, takes place annually around the middle of the year.
“I would not miss this festival for anything under normal circumstances. But there was no way that I could miss coming to observe this case”. Pederson was referring to the case in which the Basarwa seek land rights in the Central Kgalagadi Game Reserve.
Norwegian papers reported that members of Basarwa troupe called representatives of the Norwegian Christian Aid organisation to order for their paternalistic attitude. Apparently, the representatives had wanted to instruct the Basarwa that they would not be allowed any more than four beers each during the travel to or from performances.
“We are not children and we will decide what we drink and how much of it,” the Christian representatives were told.
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The Music Camp inspired over the years by Maitisong staged a fundraising jazz concert at the Gaborone West community centre last month.
Though the concert failed to attract much of an audience, it established a marker in the efforts of the Music Camp to reach out to the broader community to popularise the jazz idiom and its own objectives.
All beginnings are difficult. It will be better next time.
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The establishment of Satchmo’s in Gaborone West should add vigor to Gaborone’s nightlife.
Jazz lovers can count on Satchmo’s for a decent evening of jazz listening on every day of the week including live band midweek onwards.
The club is located near the Gaborone West police station. That should settle the fears of enthusiasts who might be anxious to get secure parking.
The club is exquisitely furnished and makes for a suitable atmosphere for mixing with the crowd or securing a quiet corner that affords the listener some privacy. Try it.
