Selonyana resurfaces with Melao album
Chippa Legodimo | Thursday October 16, 2014 14:52
Selonyana started as a dancer with Culture Spears in 2005 until 2010 when she parted ways with the group. Although she tried diplomacy, when she said ill health led to her departure, but let slip that internal shenanigans and greed forced her to leave.
“Yes I had a serious headache problem that made it difficult for me to continue singing and dancing, but there were problems within the group that made it difficult for me to stay on. When we did not have money we were a closely-knit item, but once there was money problems started. Even when I was clearly ill people were not patient with me,” she said.
She said when the headache became unbearable she decided to head back home as there was no one to take care of her in Gaborone.
The Gantsi-born artist said that when her situation improved she would return to music but that Culture Spears was an unlikely destination.
“I spent years with Culture Spears and I gained experience which I believe would put me in good stead as I venture into a solo career. Besides I did feel more appreciated when I left Culture Spears,” she said.
Apart from Culture Spears the talented Selonyana has also performed for Seragantshwane as well as Shumba Ratshega as dancer and backing singer.
After regaining her strength and posture she started composing songs for her debut album last year. She has also performed in Gantsi and the surrounding areas there, introducing herself as a solo act.
“I did not have any problems attracting audiences since many people knew Selonyana the dancer from Culture Spears, Seragantshwane and Shumba Ratshega. This may be my first album, but I am not new to the industry,” the songbird said.
Melao is a six-track album, with tracks Melao, Shakeshakeshake, Ke Boyela Gochwe, Di Nja Setshego, Tlogelang and Shelonyana. Selonyana sings her songs in Setswana except for tracks Selonyana (Useless child), Ke Boyela Gochwe (I’m going back home) and Sekgalagadi (Sekgalahari).
She says that when working on the album she strived to come up with songs with motivational messages as she tried to address social problems, especially those of the youth.
Title track Melao talks about how Batswana are being punished by God because of not following his 10 commandments, hence problems such as HIV/AIDS and passion killings.
In the track Shakeshakeshake the musician is cautioning society about intergenerational sexual relationships, especially between young girls and married men.
She warns that these men are just using them and wasting their time, while at the same time these girls are wrecking those men’s marriages.
Putting her new album to the test, Selonyana added that she entered this year’s President’s Day competition. She only managed position four during the national finals in Gaborone, after dominating competition in Gantsi.
“I am content with that position, since this is my first product and again my first competition,” Selonyana said.
Culture Spears long time producer, Joe Maseko, produced the album with instruments played by Maseko and Israel Yoyolane. Selonyana, Pelotshweu Kolobeng and Nametso Motshabi did the backing vocals.