Mosele storms back with sizzling Across Equator

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday July 21, 2011 00:00

 

His latest album, which is available at the Botswanacraft Marketing, is titled Across Equator.  Mosele collaborated with a number of local artists to come up with this well-crafted project.  Local artists who worked with him include - his partner in song - Bra Malombo Mmereki (vocals), Gavin Bantom (keyboard), John Selolwane (acoustic guitar), Brian Nyakurukwa (bass), Sharon Sibonge (backing vocals) and Joseph Barwa Barwabatsile on backing vocals as well.

Others were Tumelo Mafoko (keyboards), Matthews Dacso (sax), Daniel Njoroge (keyboards), and Kapenda Katuta (guitar).  The album features international artists as well. 

It features 10 tracks: Re Ba Labile; Small House, Baboletse, Kgodu, Ba Njele, Magae, Tsiakwano, Keatlholega, Mokotedi and Selina. Selina is a re-mix of an old song that Mosele featured in a previous album.  But this time the song sounds jazzy.

As usual, Mosele, who is one of our cultural exponents, is singing in vernacular.  This is an album, which is rich in Setswana culture. An old group, Incrowds, composed the song Re Balebile, while Afroshine also featured with a similar song.  Mosele composed most of the tracks in the new album, while the late Whyte Kgopo penned Magae.  Mosele is expected in the country towards the end of the year to promote the new album.  Mosele has always been shuttling between Norway and his home country, thus demonstrating that although he is based in Europe he would never abandon his roots.

Mosele, who has released a number of albums, is one of the country's veteran musicians still going strong despite the ripples of the recent global economic downturn.

He played for the defunct group, Kalahari band.  He was amongst the Kalahari members who accompanied South African legend Hugh Masekela on his United Kingdom (UK) tour in the '90s.

But when things did not work out in Europe, Mosele did not cry like a baby like some of his peers.In fact, he used the opportunity to establish himself.  He managed to study music in UK.In the meantime, he is busking to put food on the table.

After some time, Mosele relocated to Norway where he has hoisted the country's flag.  When he is back home, he always stages shows. So for Afro pop/jazz followers, there will always be something to celebrate summer with.