Culture Spears to honour late top producer
Spira Tlhankane | Friday November 16, 2018 13:11
Maseko put the traditional music group on the map with various best selling albums like Kulenyane amongst others. He gave Culture Spears a chance to record their works at his House of Rising Sounds studio in Gwabalanda.
Culture Spears frontman, Kabelo Mogwe told Arts & Culture this week that they had not only lost as a group but the local music fraternity has also been greatly affected.
Mogwe looked back at how Maseko helped them climb the ladder, to be one of the most successful music groups in Botswana. “We first worked with Maseko when he recorded our Korone album, which included hits like Mmadikokwana and Selonyane,” he recalled.
He added that Maseko went on to produce other hit albums like Kulenyane, Khudu, Kuweletsana and lately Dibeisane. He said they were happy with Maseko’s production and further worked with him on the Ekentolo Vol.1 and 2 and the albums included hits such as Chika Dance and Matebele. He said at one point Maseko relocated to Botswana to work closely with the group at their Kulenyane Studio, but he later returned to Zimbabwe to care for his mother.
Kabelo added that his last works with him were, amongst others, the song he did with Lucia Dottie called Ba Re Ngwana Ga Se Waaka. “He basically made us and we will forever be grateful. He was a person who would listen to other people’s advice,” he said.
Mogwe said Maseko was showing signs of ill-health because sometimes he would stop during recordings when he was not feeling well.
Mogwe was also quick to highlight that Maseko also produced some albums for Mantswabisi, (previously called Kwaito Weapons).
Maseko died at Veronicare Clinic in Luveve, Bulawayo at around 5pm on Saturday after a short illness. In Maseko’s 21-year-career, the 44-year-old executive director at Gwabalanda’s House of Rising Sounds Studio is credited for giving most, if not all notable artists from Bulawayo, their first recording sessions in studio and producing some of their award-winning albums.