Jozi to take Gabz by storm

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday April 2, 2009 00:00

 

The popular South African ensemble will perform at the University of Botswana (UB) Amphitheatre tomorrow.

This will be their first show in the country and Abraham has promised that they are going to raise a storm. 

Local groups, which will share the stage with Jozi, include Real Magosi and Kgotla of the acclaimed track Matshidiso.  Kgotla will be performing with a live band for the first time.

Kgotla, who will perform with the likes of Eugene Jackson, has been busy this week rehearsing for the show at the Satchmos Jazz Club in G-West. 

His father Clement, a music giant in his own right, who played for many groups including Kgwanyape, groomed Jackson.

And by the look of things, the local lads want to give the South African crew a run for their money. 

A local dance group, Flexivillie, will back the South Africans.  Abraham sees this arrangement as a good move because the South Africans will be able to share their skills with the locals.

DJ Oneil will be on stand by, spinning the discs only during the intervals.    Abraham said Jozi will be accompanied by their DJs from the SABC TV breakfast show.

He said the South African crew will arrive in Gaborone early tomorrow morning and a number of activities have been lined up for them. 

They will start by rehearsing with the local dance group.

Later during the day, they will be chilling out at Mafia shops at River Walk mall where they will sign autographs.  

In the evening, they will have dinner with local journalists at Gaborone Sun just before the show, he said. 

Jozi is composed of Bongani Fassie, the late singer Brenda Fassie's son, who has followed in his mother's footsteps.   Bongani is also a producer in his own right. 

Other members of the group include Ishmael of Roba lotheka fame and Lesley Mampe, who was brought up in the United States of America (US).  Actually the group has also staged shows in the States.  

The group has invented their unique sound, which they have termed motherland crunk.

The group's profile, describes the Jozi boys as the complete package as they hold it down on the stage.  This is a crew that definitely needs to be seen and heard. 

Jozi has become one of the top groups in Johannesburg.  They have established themselves within a short time. 

Abraham said members of the crew are also ambassadors of 46664, former South president Nelson Mandela's cell number at Robben Island. 

Mandela is using this trademark to run social projects.