Banjo Mosele thrills Francistown fans

SHINGIRAI MADONDO
Correspondent | Monday April 30, 2012 00:00

At least 1,000 fans packed the hotel's Jazz Pleasure Island arena to quench their thirst for quality jazz music by the Kanye-born musician who rarely stages shows in Francistown.

Mosele, who has been in Oslo, Norway, since the 90s and resides in Botswana for only half a year if not touring his native country, gave a five-star performance that left revellers calling for more.

For a musician who takes close to a year without entertaining his fans live, especially those in the northern part of the country, he was surprised to witness the kind of following he commands in Francistown.

Mosele, who took to the stage at exactly 8pm, got a surprise of his life when the fans were singing along with him some of his old songs, which he probably thought were not-so-popular in the country after releasing them while in the Nordic country. The Goldsmiths College music graduate, got inspiration from the revellers who danced to every tune played and chanted and screamed on top of their voices whenever he finished playing each song he sang. Humbled by the massive response to his music, Mosele had a crazy four-hour performance and only went for a break at midnight after taking to the stage at 20 hours.

Like a possessed man, Mosele started taking his fans down memory lane and performed the song, Senjonjo. The song that has some rich Setswana words that remind wives of their obligation not to deny their husbands conjugal rights, always sends music lovers into a frenzy.

Fans drew closer to the stage and shook Mosele's hands in admiration of his music selection that touches people's lives, while others urged him to repeat the song, saying it has valuable lessons for most levellers who had come with their partners. 'Give them what belongs to them,' shouted Mosele as he finished the song and the women responded by saying that they had heard his plea and his request would be granted.  A guitarist, composer and singer who has made his name in Europe, wrappedŒup his show with the 2009 song of the year, Ntsa e jele ntsanyana and some fans shed tears of joy. Fans were overheard screaming saying it was unfair for Mosele to be always living overseas at their expense. Mosele and his group that includes the legendary Makwengwe Mengwe and Zimbabwean-born Brian Nyakaruka are expected to fly to Norway at the beginning of June and only return in time for the festive season in December.