Musicians pay tribute to ex-vocalist Coyote

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Wednesday December 1, 2010 00:00

 

Botswana music legends were also honoured at the same event. The show was organised by Afro jazz giant Socca Moruakgomo, who has featured Coyote in his last album. Last year, the two men toured the country together.

There were still a number of joint projects that the two artists had planned but unfortunately, Coyote died. His death came as a shock to the music industry. South African singer, Steve Kekana, who used to be a mega star in the 1980s, also turned up for the memorial event. Kekana reminded many revellers of the old days when he became a household name because of his Sesotho hits.

He did a rendition of Coyote's song, 'Take your love and give it.' He collaborated with Coyote on this all-time great hit. Kekana indeed moved the crowd with this old song. He demonstrated that this was still the same old Steve Kekana and still commanding the stage presence. Even age has not caught up with him, as he still looks young. He promised to come for a local show next month and also revealed that he would be collaborating with Moruakgomo on various music projects. Kekana is renowned for his 1980s hits like Mokhotse Oa Hao, Dinyatsi, Rangoana, Masabatha, Thapelo, Marena, Abuti Thabiso, Kodua ea Maseru, Mamokoto and O apara sutu.

He was one of the music giants in Southern Africa during the apartheid era. But in the early 1990s, he took a break from music to study law. Kekana has since qualified as a lawyer and has been working for the government, but plans to go into private practice soon. Another foreign artist who showed up was Tshepho Tshola of the Sankomota fame. Tshola did not come to perform but just to give a moral support. He had performed at the Metropolitan gospel festival at the SKKB auditorium the previous day. On Saturday, Tshola shared the stage with another South African gospel artist, Winnie Mashaba. Tshola is no stranger to Botswana as he had lived here and played for a local group.

It was Moruakgomo who performed on Sunday and one of the tracks that he did was his all-time hit, 'What's happening?'. This was a great moment for the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) chief. You could see that he was enjoying his show. He was really in a mean mood. But there was still more to come. Moruakgomo invited the legends on the stage like Banjo Mosele, Bra Malombo Mmereki and Mr Magic Diau. They were joined on the stage by Kekana and Tshola and each artist was able to pay a tribute to Coyote. The artists celebrated Coyote's life with a song, which was a fitting tribute to one of South Africa's greatest vocalists. Moruakgomo said he did his last show with Coyote at the Millennium in November last year unaware it was the last time for them to perform together. But this was also a night of the legends. It was touching to see local artists collaborating. Another local artist who performed on Sunday was Eugene Jackson. Jackson is establishing himself as a force to reckon with in local music circles. Sadly, the service at the Millennium was lacklustre. The Millennium has become a notorious place where patrons have to struggle to buy a drink. Patrons are always wondering when the jazz joint will improve its service. Meanwhile, next Sunday there will be a tribute show for the late Duncan Senyatso who was one our music legends. Senyatso, who was also a cultural activist, was one of the country's music giants. But his talent was never recognised in the country and he never made money from music. Making money was never his prime objective, as many recall him as somebody who wanted to preserve the Setswana culture. This became clear in his music, which was rich in Setswana culture.

The tribute show will be organised by his son, Genius Senyatso.