Kadaffi storms Gabs to promote Mmaebaboo album

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Tuesday September 6, 2011 00:00

Last year, Kadaffi released an Afro pop album titled Mmaebaboo.   Kadaffi was recently seen performing at the Gaborone West mall.  He wowed the crowd with some of the pieces from his album.  The album incorporates wedding songs that are relevant at this time of the year.  He intends to stage shows in various major villages like Molepolole.  To him, this is a humble way of taking his music to the people as he stages free shows.

Kadaffi, who originates from Serule, points out that his stage name has nothing to do with the deposed Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.  Kadaffi, who started music at a tender age, got his name from an American Hip Hop artist.

The 30-year-old Kadaffi has been composing songs for as long as he can remember.  His partner in crime was his cousin, Eugene Jackson, who is also a renowned local artist.  They have been composing music together since 1996.  In 1999 he teamed up with Selector Rough as they embarked on various music projects.  Ultimately they hit Selebi-Phikwe where they started to perform in schools.  But it was not smooth sailing for the duo.  'Times were tough,' recalls Kadaffi who models himself along the likes of South African artist Ringo Madlingozi.

During his early days in Selebi-Phikwe, Kadaffi released his debut album, which was paying tribute to his grandmother.  Kadaffi worked with the late Kamogelo Maphorisa on this album.  He released this eight-track album in 2005.  Just like the current CD, it was also an Afro pop offering with one gospel track.  Kadaffi also shot a DVD of the album.  In 2007, Kadaffi, who was still based in Phikwe, acquired his own sound equipment.  He started working with other local artists who hired his equipment.

Kadaffi also teamed up with a former My Star finalist Kaizer Kentshitse.

Kadaffi says he decided to turn professional and engaged dancers for his group.  His dancers include Omphetse Seporagwane, Rebecca Gaoswabise, Olorato Motswasele and Kaone Phodiso.  It was Kentshitse who identified the dancers for him.  Kadaffi's group is not only of dancers but also performs as a live band.  As if that were not enough, Kadaffi intends to hire a professional dancer to groom his own dancers.  Kadaffi recorded his second album at the end of last year.  The album was recorded at Mtwalo Recording Studio in Selebi-Phikwe.  Although this sounds like a good album, Kadaffi says he has not been able to promote the CD extensively across the country due to lack of resources.  This is why he decided to come to Gaborone this year to promote the album.

He has been receiving a positive response.  Kadaffi has mostly staged shows in Phikwe and its catchment areas, which he describes as his stronghold.

Kadaffi's dream as an artist is to hit the international market.  Some of the local artists who have always inspired Kadaffi include the late disco king, Donald Botshelo and Mr Tagg when it comes to vocals.  But when it comes to performances, he admires the likes of Franco Lesokwane.  Internationally, Kadaffi has always followed Madlingozi and Ismael Lo, who is also a South African artist.

Kadaffi is working with a number of local artists on their releases.

He also intends to shoot a DVD of one of the tracks in the current album.  But he is looking for a cultural venue to do the shooting.  'I want the DVD to depict culture,' he says.  The youthful artist intends to open his own recording studio adding, 'I am a song writer and have also been assisting aspiring artists.'

As for the title of his latest album, Mmaebaboo, Kadaffi who seemed to have been close to his grandmother, says it was one of the expressions that she liked to use.  She used the expression to express shock.

Kadaffi has assured his Gaborone fans that the album will be on the shelves next week.