I never rob artists, says 'man of God' Tshanda

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Wednesday September 22, 2010 00:00

 

Addressing a press conference in Gaborone last week, Tshanda said Don-B has assured him that he had never made such claims to the media. 

Tshanda insisted that he does not cheat artists.   'I am a man of God.  I don't rob anybody.  I never rob artists.  If I were robbing artists, they would never come back to me,' he said.  Tshanda said some of the artists are facing a hard time because of the false claims that they have made against him. 

He said he wants individual artists to make it on their own.  Tshanda said when they are about to hold a show, he would always sit down with each artist to discuss the deal.  'We talk, if we don't agree, the artist does not perform,' he said.

He said that he and Don-B are back together, adding that the disco star will be performing in their forthcoming shows in the country.  'Don-B is still under Dalom.  His contract has expired, but he is still under Dalom in terms of performances.'

He told journalists that he has always maintained a good relationship with Don-B.  'I want him to be a big artist;  I want him to be independent,' he said. 

Tshanda said if one of his artists wanted to go solo, he would not stand in their way.   He gave an example of Patricia Majalisa, who has gone her own way.  He said he is the one who has produced Majalisa's forthcoming album.  Tshanda said Majalisa is growing as an artist and this is why she has left the stable.  But if she 'can't make it on her own, she is free to come back'.  During the press conference, his manager Mashumba Mashumba and local promoter, Super Letshabo, accompanied Tshanda. 

 Tshanda also spoke about his contribution to local music when responding to a question.

He said one of the local music acts that he has developed is Don-B.  He was the one who changed the artist's stage name to Don-B.  He said Don-B was then only exposed to Botswana, but since he joined the Dalom stable, he has been able to perform in countries like Zimbabwe, Nambia and South Africa.

Tshanda said local artists have also performed at Splash shows.  One of them is Vomit.  'I have also worked with the likes of Alfredo and Franco.  I might produce an album for Franco.  We are still talking,' said Tshanda. 

Tshanda also told journalists that the fact he likes performing in Botswana does not  mean that he was finished in South Africa.  He said he was going to be the face of South African telephone company, Vodacom.  He insisted that if he were finished, Vodacom would not have chosen him.

Tshanda asserted that he is selling more music in South Africa than in any other country in the region.  But Tshanda, who is married to a Motswana woman, still prefers this country.  'Botswana is my home.  It is a very peaceful country.  Life in Botswana is different from any other country.  They are still living like MaVenda,' said Tshanda who is a MoVenda. 

'When I am in Botswana, I respect myself and I always remain humble,' he said.

Tshanda was born and bred in Soweto.  He recalled that he did not complete school.  'I dropped out at Standard Four,' he said.  Tshanda had the journalists in stitches as he related that he used to live on the streets.  'I was sleeping in old cars.' 

He survived by scavenging in the dustbins.  He said he no longer eats salads because he was 'exposed to the stuff' when rummaging for food in the dustbins.  His uncle was a musician and he learnt the craft from him. 

Tshanda started singing in 1974 and played for various groups like the Soul Brothers.  

In the '80s, he formed Splash and his first hit was Peacock.  Tshanda first came to Botswana in 1985 when he was touring with Stimela.  Actually he said, it was Ray Phiri of Stimela who recommended that he should call his group Splash. 

Tshanda said he was probably the first artist in Southern Africa to compose a song about AIDS in 1987.