Zebras Club is now the next best place

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday October 11, 2010 00:00

Of late there has been a shortage of open venues for local artists wishing to host shows, especially in places like Gaborone. This follows the closure of another Mogoditshane joint, Chez Ntemba, last month by the taxman.

Chez Ntemba used to be one of the key venues where artists staged shows in an open space. Many local artists also launched their albums at the Chez Ntemba where they often performed joint shows with other groups. Album launches always proved to be successful as they attracted people in large numbers.  Following the closure of the Country Club, it means that artists will have no choice but look for alternative venues.

It is against this backdrop that the Zebras Club has come in handy. In fact the Zebras is one of the oldest nightclubs that have been hosting festivals since it was opened in the 80s. Besides the discotheque at the club, there is an open garden for staging shows for entertainment-starved revellers.

A fortnight ago, a local group, Eke Ntolo, which is under Culture Spears, held the launch of its Volume 3 album, Matebele at the Zebras Club. Several local artists, including Frank Lesokwane, who is popularly known as Franco, performed at the show. Although it may not be that ideal, the Zebras club offers some relief for desperate artists.

However, some of its facilities like toilets need to be refurbished so they meet council sanitary bye-law requirements. The open space for hosting festivals at the Zebras Club looks like relics of what must have been a huge supermarket that has been demolished. Culture Spears' leader Kabelo Mongwe, who in the past had complained about lack of venues, said 'to have places like Zebras [Club] is quite a relief'. He said the Zebras Club meets their needs as artists because there are no alternative venues.

Another issue of concern at the Zebras in the past was security, because it was frequented by thugs who used to terrorise patrons. But during the Saturday event, things were quiet while the security officers on duty were courteous to everyone. During the old days, Zebras also used to host many South African artists like the late Brenda Fassie. The club became a haven for local groups that mushroomed in the late 90s. 

The Zebras Night Club was then known as the 'People's Choice'.  At some stage, it was also known as 'Easy by Night'. The Zebras was one of the nightspots that were to open in Mogoditshane in the 80s.  During that time, Mogoditshane became the Mecca of entertainment in Botswana. At some stage, there were more nightclubs in Mogoditshane than even in Gaborone. Other nightclubs that operated in Mogoditshane in the 80s included the Mogo Hotel, Lekadiba and Bodiba. Lekadiba also used to be the place to be. One of the local groups that used to perform at Lekadiba was the Afro Shine Band. When it opened, Queen Kwelagobe, the wife of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) chairman, Daniel Kwelagobe, owned Lekadiba. Lekadiba, which was not very far from the Zebras, has since been closed. 

Another venue that used to host South African artists in the likes of John Moriri, was Bodiba which was renamed as Chez Ntemba. I remember turning up at the club as a teenager in the early 80s, featuring one of the old South African artists. Other South African artists of the yester year included William 'Mr Everything' Mthethwa. Bodiba club also featured the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) kwasa-kwasa group, Lumbumbashi Stars up until the early 90s. 

But before it became to be called Chez Ntemba, Bodiba was also the home of local groups in the 90s.  Some of the groups that performed at Lekadiba over the weekends include Alfredo Mosimanegape and Kgwanyape, which was led by the late Duncan Senyatso. It was at Bodiba where Mosimanegape made his name in kwasa-kwasa circles. 

It was also an ideal spot for picnics, especially on Sunday afternoons.