Kgwanyape, yesteryears' stars sink into oblivion

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Staff Writer | Friday June 28, 2013 00:00

 

This once mighty musical giant has since sunk into oblivion and chances of its revival are next to nil despite the fact some of the original members are still alive and well.However, the group has such rich history and heritage that it is hard to ignore its influence in both cultural music and the urban version.Some of their songs can still be heard every now and then on local radio stations.The group's name was derived from some imaginary creature believed to possess some super natural powers that it could raze the whole village in minutes if provoked.So when the late Duncan Senyatso and Clement Jackson formed a band in the '80s they knew they wanted to conquer the airwaves in similar fashion, hence their band was called Kgwanyape.

There were no private recording studios then. Radio Botswana (RB) - the only radio station at the time - recorded most of the music but even then the records were not meant for sale.Besides, at the time locals followed mostly South African music and very few believed any local band could offer comparatively good music.However, that did not deter Senyatso and Jackson whose Kgwanyape became an instant hit with local fans.There was little hope of the band releasing an album due to the costs associated with travelling to South Africa for recording so Kgwanyape only thrived on live performances.The band had a talented group of artists led by Senyatso who played the rhythm guitar and was also lead vocalist and Jackson was on the lead guitar.  They included Masilonyane Radinoga on trumpet, Anu Thuto on drums (before he was replaced by Makhwenkwe Mengwe) as well as Senyatso's two brothers, Caxton and the late Circson Senyatso.

While still enjoying the limelight with live performances, the band got lucky one day and finally realised their dream of having their music on tape. Co-founder Jackson related the story to Arts & Culture this week.'We were performing in the Gaborone Main Mall in 1984 when Sankomota's music scout Lloyd Ross bumped into us.  It was purely by default because he was just passing through,' Jackson said. Ross was so impressed that he immediately offered them a recording opportunity.'Can you imagine he had to drive a caravan with recording equipment all the way here to have our album recorded,' Jackson said excitedly.

After recording their music they thought they would market to radio their stuff to play to a bigger audience but they were frustrated after being told that their tape was not good enough.'I am not going to say what radio station because we were turned down by one of the workers and maybe it was just his idea.  It was only later in the '90 that they started showing interest in our stuff,' he said. But the band was to find other ways of spreading their artistic talent.  Their next stop was Bodiba Club, present day Trekkers in Mogoditshane where they would find a temporary home and endeared themselves to many music lovers.

'Our music was accorded the exposure there and in no time we were a celebrated band.  In fact I am proud to declare that we were the first local band to record cultural music,' Jackson told Arts & Culture.Soon they curtain raised for big international stars like Eric Clapton.In 1988, just three years after the release of Mephato Ya Maloba, Kwanyape shared the stage with world acclaimed British band UB40 at the National Stadium in Gaborone.Other high profile shows were to follow suit, Pepe Khale from Democratic Republic of Congo, Paul Simon, Maxi Priest, The Comadors, Shaba Ranks, the list just continues.One show that has remained vividly etched in Jackson's heart and mind was Kgwanyape's curtain raiser for Eric Clapton in 1992.

Jackson had been following the international star with passion and when Senyatso told him that they have been invited to open for his childhood hero at Boipuso Hall he was both ecstatic and confused. Jackson had read so much about the musician and it never crossed his mind that one day he would see him in person let alone share the stage with him. 'He met us after our performance and came straight to me and commended me for the way I played the lead guitar.  That was so exhilarating and I started telling him how I have followed him keenly and reminded him of many incidents in his career and he was impressed,' Jackson recollected. Because it was like a dream Jackson later felt he might be boring Clapton and tried to quit the conversation and joined fellow band members but was called back by the big star.

The rock musician had just won his second award as the World's best guitarist when he toured the country.Jackson's skill did not only earn him a commendation.  Jackson's most treasured moment came when the two-time 'World's Best Guitarist Award' winner Eric Clapton, after hearing him play, exclaimed, 'Young man there's so much of me (musical influence) in you' and offered him a top of the range guitar, authentic Gipson ES 353 that he still treasures.'That is like a Mercedes Benz in the motoring industry and it was clear Clapton felt I was among the best and as such deserved the best instrument for the job,' Jackson said.Jackson could have capitalised and probably forced his way into Clapton's band but says he loved his job as a train driver at the time.

'There were lots of pressures from all sides. I wondered if my family would approve of that because that was a time when music was seen as an activity for idle minds; people who had nothing else to do,' he explained.Most people, especially the elderly who saw the band perform their magic in the early '90s at Bodiba club and other areas, would hope for the resurrection of the famous band but that seems impossible.  This is despite the fact that four of its former members are still alive.'I do not see that happening.  It is difficult to keep a band these days.  We can only meet every now and then like last year when we were supposed to play at that Mahotella Queens' show, which never materialised anyway,' Jackson said.