Gong Master left an indelible mark
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday May 1, 2023 06:00
Gong Master, born Mponang Ketshabile aged 50,passed on in the early hours of Thursday morning at Princess Marina Hospital.
Speaking on behalf of the family, his sister Tirelo Seru told Mmegi that the former Dikakapa lead singer succumbed to a stroke.
Gong Master is known to his legion of fans for his masterpieces such as Makaleng, Mahala, Dilo tsa Sesha with Dikakapa as well as Letlapa and Makanyane which he produced with Ditiro Leero.
He shot to fame in 2004 when he sang alongside another Borankana singer, Shirley Mokoka through Mokorwana group. The two struck a solid combination on a song called Madume, which later became a national hit. At the time, Gong Master was still a soldier with Botswana Defence Force (BDF). The duo’s combination was just a marvel as their voices complimented each other quite well. When Shirley left Mokorwana and went solo, Gong Master decided to follow her. Shirley would later feature Gong Master on her first solo project called Tsoga Maroko where they continued that sensational combination.
Moving on, Gong Master would later co-found Dikakapa traditional Group. The group took the music industry by storm with songs such as Selempu and others. His roaring and thunderous voice timbre was significant and endeared himself as the group’s pivot. The roar would get fans sharply focused on him during the group’s riveting performances.
Dikakapa went on to make great strides, earning corporate bookings, both locally and in neighbouring South Africa.
However, Gong Master would leave Dikakapa and go solo. This time he resurfaced with an enthralling album titled Dumelang going under the name Tau ya Koma. The album was an instant hit as it got positive reception from music lovers. His brilliance and maturity flowered very clearly as a solo performer. So too was his use of rich Setswana language which attracted many to his music while his spectacular voice was just the cherry on top. At the time, his solo career looked destined for greater heights while his void was felt at Dikakapa.
On another realm, Gong Master also collaborated with another talented artist, Ditiro Leero as they jointly released two Dikhwaere albums, Makanyane Vol 1 and 2 in process. The two albums did very well in the market.
Speaking to Mmegi, Shirley described Gong Master as a talented musician who had a commanding voice. She said she met Gong Master in 2004 when he was still a soldier and they immediately struck a bond through song.
“At the time I met him, he was still a soldier and was popularly known as DiGong in the barracks as a Dikhwaere singer. We featured him at Mokorwana group and we sang one song together called Madume. Our voices complimented each other so well that we began to immediately appreciate each other’s talents. When I went solo, Gong Master followed me and I featured him on my album Tsoga Maroko. It was such a perfect combination,” Shirley said.
Shirley also said Gong Master had a way he spoke which was very commanding and was probably influenced by his background as a soldier. She said in most cases, Gong Master was overly protective and would let nothing touch her.
She said the last time they spoke was last year, after a fellow musician had told her that herself, Gong Master and Ditiro Leero owed Batswana a collaboration of the trio.
“I then said to him that we must put aside our differences aside once and give Batswana what they want. We both agreed that the collaboration has to happen but unfortunately he left before we could do it. Death is painful but unfortunately it is God’s will and there is nothing we can do about it,” she said.
Gong Master also worked as presenter for Duma FM where he hosted a show called Sesigo sa Setso sa Setswana. The show aired Mondays and Wednesdays from 10pm to 12 midnight. His former colleague and boss at the radio station Tumisang Mothei said it was unfortunate that the nation has lost such an influential figure.
Mothei, who is Duma FM’s Programs Manager said Gong Master assumed the role of an elder during his time with the station.
“Gong Master did a specialised Setswana and culture show called Sesigo sa Setso sa Setswana. He was one of the longest serving members of the station and a veteran presenter. He was an elder in the station and was very influential. He always went beyond the call of duty to advice some of his juniors and also motivated us. Unfortunately, we had to discontinue his show as he was inconsistent during COVID-19 because he wasn’t residing in Gaborone,” Mothei said.
Mothei disclosed that Gong Master recently collaborated with a group called Ba Ga Maila with the intention to revive traditional music. He said the collaboration had one song, adding that his footprints had been greatly felt in the country.