Culture Spears lose member, hail 'successful' tour

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Wednesday January 6, 2010 00:00

 

The Gabane star's music career started off in the late 90s as a keyboard player for the late local disco king, Lebasho. He worked for Alfredo & les Africa Sounds as sound engineer, where Culture Spears recruited him.

Maello was involved in a fatal accident on the Mogapi - Tamasane road on the morning of 2nd January. He was traveling, with the band, from a highly successful tour of 14 towns and villages. The equipment truck they were traveling in strayed off the road after the driver reportedly lost control. Preparations for the musician's sending off are still on going, according to Culture Spears' lead man, Kabelo Mogwe.

Despite losing a team member, Mogwe hailed the festive tour as a huge success. Culture Spears ended the year with the release of a dance album, Ekentolo vol 2. Chika, and Kgomo ya pula, tracks from the album captured the hearts of many music lovers over the festive season. Chika in particular was the festive song of choice in both urban and rural areas.

The Ekentolo vol.2 tour of 14 villages and towns kick started on December 19 in Orapa before spreading to the Kalanga areas of Sebina and Tutume. In Tswapong the group toured Matolwane, Pilikwe, Maunatlala, Mogapi and Machaneng. They also toured Bobirwa areas such as Tsetsebjwe, and Mmadinare as well as Serowe peripheral areas - Pilikwe, Paje, Serule and Moiyabana and the town of Palapye.

'Despite what happened (the loss of their sound engineer), it was a huge, huge success. Our shows were well attended throughout the tour. The beauty of it is that we did not have to share the proceeds with others because we used our own equipment, own manpower, our trucks, and when it came to performances, it was the Ekentolo crew as well as performances by Culture Spears. That's why we view it as a huge success', Mogwe elaborated.