Jazz Guru Katumbela Laid To Rest
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Monday September 18, 2017 15:56
A black cloud befell the local jazz music and the Katumbela family after the jazz icon died in a burning car the previous Thursday.
All the speakers, some overcome with emotions spoke of Katumbela aka DJ SK as a caring, humble, passionate, go-getter and a humble soul. His family though, pointed out that they had accepted the passing on of the deceased and would like to heal. A number of heart-broken speakers vowed to keep his legacy and passion in keeping the jazz industry alive.
His colleague at Duma FM, Donald Seberane said they will always remember Katumbela for his caring and passion. He said they had a solid bond with him for over 20 years.
A caring person, Katumbela always brought another colleague, Kgomotso Tshwenyego a chocolate every Sunday just to calm her down because her show was sensitive and she always cried afterwards.
“He left a connection at Duma that no one can ever break. Street Horn Jazz with Duma FM will continue. It will be tough to find someone who will replace him,” Seberane choked back tears.
He added that the radio world and Botswana music had lost a pioneer. But he said the radio station will support the upcoming jazz festival that the deceased organised before he died.
For her part, the Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association (BEPA) president, Zenzel Hirschfield said the organisation’s founding father was a respectful person. She added that he contributed a lot to her career and supported her through her campaign for presidency. She said BEPA had lost a great pioneer and assured the Katumbela family and the nation that the show will go on in commemoration of the late legend.
Dikgang Makgalemele, who is the patron of BEPA, said Katumbela was the master of music. He said Katumbela was known for his perseverance, spirit, being humble and a dedicated person who lived for to music. “We must learn a lot from his life and make something out of our lives. The music industry, more especially the promotion side, is vital in our lives.
I urge his family to write a book that shows the entertainment sector of our country and Soares’ contribution to the local music industry must be highlighted in that book. We will continue supporting the family and I agree that this show must go on. When he died I was in Francistown with a particular councillor whom I asked to give me the deceased’s number so that I could congratulate him on the upcoming event. Little did I know that he passed on that night,” he said.
According to Beata Kasale of The Voice newspaper, Katumbela was a resilient person. She added that he had a lot of friends and was his benefactor.
“When I heard of his passing, it did not go down well with me. For a man that has done so much for the local jazz music, he passed on in a painful way. He persevered until the last day. Maybe we will never know what happened that day, but I know he was frustrated. Let’s not let Katumbela’s death be in vain. Perhaps we have not been there for him,” she said.
Kasale further explained that it must always be remembered that showbiz was a life to many artists. She said for other artists their lives and those of their children depended on showbiz. She said Katumbela has been through the worst in showbiz.
“Do unto others what you want to be done unto you,” an emotionally drained Kasale concluded philosophically.