Fane defines his afro jazz style with I am

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday August 16, 2010 00:00

Aptly titled I Am, the album defines his Afro jazz music style. 

The eight-track album was recorded at Mud Hut Studio in Gaborone. 

It comprises tracks like Mofufutso, Chomie, Kgokgontsho, Lenyalo, Wishes, As Sweet As Always, Selebatso and Mme Nthome. 

In I Am, Fane is singing about his life's experiences.  'I am singing about what I have gone through in life.  Almost every track is related to my life experiences,' he says. 

In Kgokgontsho, he sings about abuse while track Selebatso is dedicated to his wife.   The lyrics in most of the tracks are in Setswana and it is only the song Wishes, which combines vernacular and English.

Fane was backed by Kabelo Tamokatse (bass guitar), Enock Mbewe (drums), Gomotsegang Rapoo (guitar), Rampholo Molefhe (keyboards), Fans Motshwega (tromobone), and Lucas Moeng (trumpet).  The back vocalists were Nono Siile, Lapolang Seetso and Botho Kebadiretse.

Molefhe was also the art director of the project, while Fane was the producer.  Fane mentions Molefhe and Lister Boleseng as some of his mentors in music.  However, Fane says he is self-inspired.  Fane was not initially destined for music.  He joined the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) in 1986, but it was only in 1991 when he started playing for one of the BDF groups.  He said he just started as an ordinary soldier who was doing routine patrols at the border.  But even then he showed some interest in music.  He recalls that at some stage he bought a small guitar, which he would be strumming while on trips.  This is how he developed his talent.

He then applied for a transfer to the band and upon realising that he might be talented, his bosses granted his wish.  He joined the Group C, which is based at Thebephatshwa where he learned how to blow the saxophone, an instrument that he has come to master.  He can also do vocals. 

After he joined the BDF band, Fane started jamming with civilian groups and interacting with other local musicians. Some of the musicians that he has backed include Ndingo Johwa, Punah Gabasiane, Jazz Impromptu, Tsilo Baitsile, Molefhe and many others.  He also worked on bassman Citie Seetso's album and he did a recording with Gabasiane, which was not released.  He did the vocals on one of Seetso's tracks. 

Fane was among musicians commissioned to provide the sound for the Mma Ramotswe movie.  Fane was the lead vocalist for a local group, which used to jam at Buyani Bar in Broadhurst.  Fane also used to follow international artists like saxophonist Groover Washington Jnr.  Maybe he learnt a tune or two from the reputed sax man.  Fane said he learnt much from the local musicians that he has worked with.

Fane says he will never stop learning as far as music is concerned.  He says he also would like to acquire some educational qualifications in music training.