Franco shows his borankana talent

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Correspondent | Thursday October 11, 2007 00:00

 

But Franco, real name Frank Lesokwane, also has another unknown face. Premier Cultural Music group, Dikakapa have been so impressed with the Gabane-born singer and dancer's cultural music skills that they have featured him in two of the songs in their forthcoming album called Bomalome, scheduled for release this month.

In fact Franco contributed two songs in Dikakapa's new album. Dikakapa promoter, dancer and singer Moagi Lekone aka Jumbo, says Franco actually played the keyboards in the songs, wrote lyrics, and provided the melody. Jumbo says they were so impressed with the man's talent that they featured him in one of the two songs, Ikeletlhoko, as the lead vocalist.

'The man is amazing. He surprised us. We did not approach him in the first place, he volunteered his services. He would leave our place after 3am after working with us the whole night. I have never seen anybody like that man.

After contributing the songs and spending so much time working with us, Franco never asked for anything in return. We were amazed.

He said he did it for love, just like that,' said jumbo, who hopes that Franco's inclusion in their forthcoming album will attract 'loyal Franco supporters' to sample the Dikakapa album.

In the song, ikeletlhoko, Franco follows the now popular sarcastic style as he sings about a bad girl. It is full of hate language, delivered in a humorous style.

In the same album, Dikakapa introduces a new entrant in the group, Alfonso Keontse aka Tshumu, whose debut performance in the album should send silvers down the spines of his rivals.

Jumbo is also one of the lead vocalists in the new Dikakapa album, which features a variety of lead vocalists this time round, a far-cry from their debut album, which had Gong Master Ketshabile as the lone lead vocalist.

The new album however maintains the original Dikakapa identity with the group's original keyboard player Lucky Tshwaranang giving the music lovers some familiar lines of programming.

Here and there one could be forgiven for assuming that the original lead singer appears in some songs in this album, but that is Tshumu. Somehow he manages to reproduce the original Dikakapa vocals by 'stealing' into Gong's master style.

Jumbo is full of praise for the newcomer. 'We used to go to Gaborone Secondary School (GSSS) together.

He has also sung with Ditholwana and Mogwana before. We have been very fortunate in that Tshumu also felt that his heart was with Dikakapa.

Other rivals wanted him, but he turned them down even before we could speak to him. He has fitted like a glove now,' he said.