Franco Still The Rhumba King

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Monday October 15, 2007 00:00

 

The last few years have been testing for the Gabane-born star as he faced stiff, sometimes bitter rivalry from other up coming artistes.

The likes of Jeff Matheatau and Chris Manto Seven are just some of those who have shaken Franco's base. But those who had relegated him to the Rhumba music scrap yard must be thinking otherwise following the launch of his latest project at Chez Ntemba on Saturday.

Despite the fact that there was a lot happening around Gaborone, with the national under 23 playing their Guinea counter parts at the national stadium and the graduation parties all around town, a good crowd was visible at the launch of his seventh album titled 'Sepekere'. A mixture of his old songs and a few from his new album sent his fans into a frenzy reminding them of the old good times when he broke onto the scene with release of 'Ke lela le lona' as well as the follow up 'Ba a Ntatola'.

Although the fans had come to witness the self-styled king of Rumba give them a good taste of his new offering, it was his young nephew Innocent 'Bokhina' Lesokwane who stole the lime light from the uncle.

His mimics on tracks such as 'Sepekere' caught the attention of the fans who shouted that he was better than his uncle.

To spice it up, the Master of Ceremony had the two compete and the 22-year-old was again the crowd's favourite. Franco has tried to cover the breaths and widths of this country in his past albums using names of different villages in the songs.

The last time the track 'Dilo tsa ko Ranaka' had residents of the village in the Southern District feeling 'important'.

The video shoot of the song took place at the very village mentioned in the song, just to add the cherry on top.

This time it is those in Sebina who will stick to the radio. Track number one of the new album is called Sebina and those who were at the show were appalled at the way Franco could speak and sing the language. It has segments of Ikalanga lyrics.

When it comes to stage performance, only a few can match Franco and his group's brilliance.

He is fairly not that good at dancing but he has a way of moving the crowds with his funny antics. He and his Afro Musica always do it as if it would be their last show on earth.

The group puts a lot of energy into their performances and the Saturday festival was no different. The dancers left revellers in stitches with their raunchy dance routines.

The last time Franco released a 'very hot' album he was working with Robert Dargie. The two maestros did a wonderful job on 'Robala Nnana' which was a runaway success.

Dargie has returned and Franco also returned to Dargie Digital Studios and the sound is just what his fans have been waiting for. On Saturday, the airwaves in Gaborone especially were filled with Franco's tunes. 

Almost every music store, drinking spot and bar around Gaborone was blaring with tracks from his latest album, at least until in the evening when the Zebras' praise songs started dominating following the under 23's shock defeat of Guinea.