Freshly Ground simply phenomenal

GIDEON NKALA
Staff Writer | Thursday October 7, 2010 00:00

 

At about a dozen shows that they have staged in the county their shows have been sold out. Perhaps even most important, long after their performance people do not stop talking about the show, the music and the group that Freshly Ground is.

Many critics have compared Freshly Ground to that pioneering group from South Africa, Mango Grooves. To most local music lovers if Mango Groove were great Freshly Ground are simply phenomenal. Even though their shows were perched at what many might consider to be too steep admission fee of P 400, the show still sold out. Over our 44th Independence celebrations Freshly Ground was the lead act in the Jazz music festival held over two days in Gaborone.

The verdict amongst most attendees is that Freshly Ground are trailblazers. During their first show last week the group played at high tempo. For many revellers, it is amiss to enjoy Freshly Ground music from the comfort of your seat. For the duration of the group's performance many were on the dance floor, tapping their feet while some who could believe their luck were snapping at their cameras and phones to get shots of the group on stage.Of course, the main focus was the lead singer, Zolani Mahowa.

It's a hard act being the people's favourite as Zolani's unique singing has catapulted her to dizzy heights. Zolani has been the epitome of simplicity: Short hair, less than flamboyant outfit, old-fashioned humility on stage. This is the picture of Zolani that many had etched on their minds. This time around she had shorn off her conservatism. Long locks, layered multi-coloured costume. More vibey and racy on stage than on previous occasions when she was here. Some found the new Zolani out of sync with the picture Zolani they have come to idolise. On stage she is a tigress and it comes out when she does that poetic song, I'd like.

Freshly Ground sang Pot Belly from Macheri album, Do-be do-be from the Nomvula album but it was very clear that the aim was to promote their new album, Radio Africa.

The signature hit Moto was an instant hit at the show.Moto, Moto.Wayaka, Wayaka.Moto Wayaka.

That love ballad Fire is low is one hit that will be played at every occasion. The lines endeared themselves to many a woman in the audience. 'Be my love when the fire is low. Have a wonderful time but don't forget to write to me! Be like the swallows and remember home as a loving tree.'

There was much expectation when the group played Chicken to change, the song that got them in trouble in Zimbabwe when they were refused entry to play in that country.

'I like Southern Africa and I want to play in Zimbabwe,' was Zolani's way of introducing the song that supposedly talks about Robert Mugabe as being too chicken to change.

If there was any issue with Freshly Ground it was that they played fewer songs to the optimum satisfaction of the revellers.

If Freshly Ground standards were to be used to measure local artists, then Ndingo Johwa got a big thumbs-up from the audience.