Kgotla, the crooner who sings his way into women's hearts

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Thursday April 1, 2010 00:00

 

His smooth, tantalising voice, his rippled muscles coupled with good looks surely made him an overnight sensation. He instantly became Botswana's own Teddy Pendergrass, whom our womenfolk, young and old, found hard to resist. 

Now his fans will be delighted to learn that Kgotla is gearing to set hearts ablaze with his latest offering, Pelo Yame.  Kgotla is confident that Pelo Yame is going to outclass the runaway success of his debut album, a question that might linger in the minds of his legions of fans. There is no doubt that  the dog-eat-dog music industry is very cruel and that many would-be stars just flare up like shooting stars and are gone the next moment. Will Kgotla prove that he has a staying power and if so would he be able to shake off the 'Kgotla of Matshidiso fame' label?  This is a challenge that many artists have faced at one point or another in their careers and there is no doubt it is not an easy task to achieve notable success after releasing  a hit album or song, which critics would use as a yardstick. Music legend Michael Jackson, although great to the end, was never able to record an album that was able to surpass Thriller, which is currently considered to be the best-selling album of all time.  Beyonce's I am...Sasha Fierce is one album that has received positive reviews from music critics and it still remains to be seen if this engaging  artist will be able to release another one that would outclass it.

But our local Afro-pop star is confident that his forthcoming album is loaded with potential mega-hits, the kind of hits that have potential to make him an icon not only in Botswana but the rest of Africa as well.

As Kgotla joins Mmegi for an interview in one of the eateries at Riverwalk, an ardent fan approaches the artist and tells him that he has long asked him to give him a copy of his latest CD in one of the popular social networks. It is obvious that it is the first time he meets the man face-to-face but he shakes his hands and assures him that he is going to give him the album once it is available.

While he presence in the little eatery draws stares, the young man ignores them and it is obvious that he is not one to enjoy soaking up fame like many celebrities do.

'Pelo Yame is going to be bigger than Matshidiso because I have grown vocally and I am now working with an international and better established stable,' he says empathetically.

The smooth operator, who always leaves women swooning over him whenever he performs, says that the album is dedicated to womenfolk from the beginning to the end. He asserts that, according to him, women are the most beautiful and precious of all creation and that they should be appreciated and adored by their male counterparts.

He emphasises that it is high time all men showed women the respect that they deserve.

'It has always been said that men are stronger than women but that's wrong, women are able to carry unborn babies for nine months and that is a trait that men are not capable of doing,' he says pointing out it is a misconception that men are stronger than women. Kgotla says that although he believes that women are stronger than men in a lot of ways, they are equally fragile which means that they have to be handled with care.

Since it is clear he holds women in high regard, what does he do to fend off female groupies? Kgotla drops a bombshell.

'I am called by God and I try by all means to protect the gift that he has given me. I tell every woman who tries to seduce me that I am a man of God,' he says matter-of-factly, adding that the fact that he neither drinks nor smokes helps him to be able to make sober decisions which do not compromise his stand with God.

However, he is quick to add that he does not want to portray himself as somebody who never makes mistakes as he is only human just like the rest of us. As a way of avoiding temptation, he spends most of his time with other men of God who whet his appetite for spiritual food by sharing with him from the Bible and making prophetic utterances. He tells Mmegi that he is planning to isolate himself for a few days and seek the face of God with equally thirsty fellow Christians.

A question that he has fielded the most from journalists and other curious people is how he could sing secular songs while he says that he is a Pentecostal/charismatic Christian.

The crooner wisely answers that when he reads the Bible, he sees many verses that encourage people to love one another. Kgotla asserts that his songs carry strong messages that help put the spark back into relationships and marriages. He points out that his primary mission is to build and not destroy relationships.

The Afro-pop star says one day he got a call out of the blue and a female caller at the end of the line told him, 'Lapa lame le thata ka wena' (Your music has strengthened my family life).

Pelo Yame has been produced by well-known singer-cum-producer Tshepo Lesole and most of the songs were co-written by Kgotla and Lesole. He features artists like Suggie Fisher, Thabo Bolokwe, better known as T.H.A.B.O, and an artist from the internationally renowned South African band, Joyous Celebration, in this album which he says is of world standards. Kgotla and Lesole had scheduled the release of the album for end of this month but then an international recording label based in South Africa approached him and signed him as one of their artists which has since delayed the release date. The contract that he signed with the said record label binds him not to mention its name but he assures his fans that the deal is going to give him a major breakthrough.

What can one do except wait and see whether Kgotla will be able to 'worm' his way into women's hearts with Pelo Yame as he did with Matshidiso.