Johwa headlines winter jazz extravaganza

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday June 27, 2013 00:00

 

The first show, which is going to be for charity, will kick off at Velvet joint in Sebina this Saturday.On July 12 they will perform at Cresta Hotel in Mahalapye followed by another gig at Thapama Lodge in Francistown the following day.  The tour will culminate on July 14 when the man dubbed 'Satjilombe' and his entourage will perform at Shumba Lodge in Tutume.Satjilombe's lastest release is a compilation album entitled The Very Best of Ndingo Johwa. It includes tracks like Debgwe, Tjalibeki, Nostaliga, Nata, Lingano, Phondanyana and several other hits.His last major show was in April when he performed at the beMobile jazz concert at the Majestic Five Hotel in Palapye, along side legendary South African trombonist Jonas Gwangwa.

During the tour, Satjilombe will be accompanied by other local artists like Mshilo and Tee Peegos. Just like Johwa, Mshilo who is officially known as Sheila Rodgers sings what she terms Ikalanga jazz.  Mshilo started singing long ago as part of a duo called Makwati.  The group released an Afro pop album Ndiwe in 2009.That same year, the album swept the BOMU awards in the Afro pop category.But Mshilo parted with the group in 2010 to embark on a solo career.  She released her first solo album titled Ulela.  This is not the first time that she will be touring in the North with Johwa.  In the past, they have performed together at places like Domboshaba and Sebina, and Mshilo looks forward to this tour as well.  She says she will also be performing some of her unrecorded songs that she has been compiling.

It was after she started touring with Johwa that Mshilo decided to sing Ikalanga jazz.  In April this year, she released her jazz album, Ndo Enda.  Her video has been getting air play on local television channels.But Mshilo's biggest moment will be in October when she will share the stage with Zimbabwean superstar, Oliver Mtukudzi at the Botswanacraft.'I can't wait for that moment,' she says.