Ringo comes to Gaborone

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday September 13, 2010 00:00

 

Show organiser, Oliver Groth, said the P200 tickets have been selling like hot cakes and advises prospective show-goers to book early.  He warned that they are not going to sell tickets at the gates on the day of the show.

Groth said they are expecting a huge crowd.   The courtyard can accommodate a maximum of up to 1,000 people.  He said as usual, security is going to be tight to ensure the safety of revellers.  Groth revealed that Ringo, who is renowned for his love ballads, would arrive in Gaborone on Thursday.

The South Africa star, who enjoys a large following in Botswana, will be performing along side local bands, Botswana Jazz Quartet and Eugene Jackson who will be accompanied by his backing group.  Some of the members of the Botswana Jazz Quartet include veteran drummer Arthur Mengwe, who is popularly known in music circles as Makhwenkhwe.

Mengwe has played with a number of local groups including the defunct Kgwanyape as well as the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) band.  At Kgwanyape, he had teamed up with the late vocalist and cultural activist Duncan Senyatso. 

Mengwe will also bring his experience to the core during the festival.

According to music.org.za, the Cape Town-born Ringo is currently emerging as one of South Africa's strongest new performing acts.

However, he is not a newcomer to the music scene and has preserved through session work, which led to recording with artists as diverse as Hugh Masekela, Simply Red, the late Teddy Pendergrass (The Power Of One) and Caiphus Semenya as well as the movie The Lion King.

Born in 1964, Ringo spent his childhood and school days in Gugulethu Township, Cape Town, but finished high school in Umtata.  He was musically active from a young age and while at school he led an acapella group that performed at community and youth functions.

He later became a vocalist for 'Ikwenzi' but it was during his role as a front man for the band 'Peto' that his unique vocal talents were recognised nationally.   Ringo's first album, Vukani (Wake Up) was released in 1996. 

His second album, Sondela (Get Closer) was released the following year and with its themes of reconciliation and national unity, carried a strong message for South African people.  It was Sondela, which put Ringo on the music map.

This was at the time when Ringo gained popularity even in neighbouring countries in the region.  The album achieved double platinum status in sales, awards and major airplay.

This has ensured that Ringo remained a much sought-after act on the performing circuit in South Africa.