Can Gong Master shoot Dikakapa back to the top?
Chippa Legodimo | Tuesday January 6, 2015 11:54
Gong Master had quickly endeared himself as the group’s pivot. His roar would get fans sharply focused on him during the group’s riveting performances.
Shortly after the news broke out that the lanky singer was leaving Dikakapa, he resurfaced with mellow solo album trading as Tau ya Koma. While music lovers were still stunned by his artistic brilliance as a solo performer, Dikakapa released an album titled Bomalome. The album received a lukewarm response. This instigated fears that Gong Master’s departure would derail the group were allayed when Bomalome received a Kora nomination in 2010, which was ultimately won by Nigerian superstars P-Square.
Dikakapa went on to make great strides, earning corporate bookings, both here and in neighbouring South Africa. But without Gong Master the group looked incomplete and they featured him in their second offering, Mooka.
That was an evident sign that both parties had buried the hatchet. After reuniting with their talented vocalist, Dikakapa released their third album, Re Boile, late last year.
The group’s spokesperson Moagi ‘Jumbo’ Lekone is optimistic that the return of the ‘Lion of Song’ will boost the group’s fortunes.
“There is no denying that Gong Master is not only creative, but also quite innovative. Dikakapa has survived without him but we clearly need his influence. As a group, we complement each other very well but with someone like him it becomes a lot easier,” Lekone told Showbiz.
He observed that in their recent performance since the return of Gong Master fans seemed to enjoy their performances more.
“He does things his own way, mostly things that he would not have rehearsed, but would still be able to improvise the new stuff into the whole performance to good effect. The idea is to learn from the past mistakes and ensure we stick together,” Lekone said.