Mosele releases Nowa Days Afro jazz album

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Friday August 15, 2008 00:00

Mosele, who left for Norway this week, spent two months in the country working on the album. 

If there is one thing that Mosele would never forget, it is his culture and this comes out clearly in this album, which is sung in Setswana. 

You should listen to him doing the hit track, Ntsa E Jele Ntsanyana.  This is a celebratory song, which captures the everyday life hurdles.  It talks about the dog-eat-dog lifestyle that people are leading. 

Mosele says this a song about a guy who does not want to work, but is always asking for money.  'He is some sort of Tinto,' he says.

Although he is based in Norway, Banjo is up to the date with the situation in his home country.  Mosele worked on this song with former BDF band lead singer Bra Malombo Mmereki.

There is also another track, Mochudi Centre Chiefs, which is dedicated to Mascom Premier League champions. 

Other songs like O Motho have a slow tempo.  There is also the track Kookoo with the jazzy vibes and the familiar traditional song Tshwene Dinyadisa. This sounds to be a true Afro jazz tune. 

 Ditshepe is a vibey Bakgatla traditional song, which is done by Mosele. It is quite a familiar song that could take you to the dancing floor.

Other tracks include Ngwao O, Botsa Mmutla and Driving Me Crazy, which is the only song with English lyrics.

The album was recorded at Dargie Digital Studios in Gaborone. 

What is commendable about Mosele is that he is always willing to work with local musicians. 

He does not regard himself as a mega international star who does not want to have anything to do with the locals.  Musicians who collaborated with him on this project include Daniel Njoroge (piano), Kabelo Tamukate (bass), Enock Mbewe (drums), Andrew Chinganga (sax) and Suggie Fisher.

Mosele says his album was inspired by Batswana's lifestyle and of course the language.  To him music is more about the language.  'Even if I spoke English, I could still sing better in my mother tongue,' he says.

Talking about Batswana's lifestyle, Mosele says it is unique.
 'It is only here where you would hear a guy telling you that 'he monna go maswe ntsa e ja ntsanyana,' he says, meaning that one would be lamenting that things are so bad.  'You can't hear this even in South Africa and Lesotho.'

Mosele says, when he was studying at a music college in London, he was always experimenting with traditional music.  He jammed with other international artists but it was difficult to come up with a distinctive sound.  'We tried to experiment all kinds of music or what we call fusion.  It was a good experience.'

It might have been a good experience, but Mosele realised that he could only do it right if he could stick to his culture.  This is why he decided to sing in vernacular.  As for the jazz influence, he adopted the style at the music college. 

Mosele attributes his successes in music to the legendary South African maestro, Hugh Masekela.

 In the '80s Mosele played for Masekela's band, Kalahari, which was then based in Gaborone. The group later left for Europe within the mid 80s and that is how Mosele ended up in music exile.

For Mosele, Masekela has been a music academy.  'Hugh was like a music college for me,' he says.  He learnt so much from the veteran South African musician in terms of professionalism.

Mosele mentions his other mentor as guitarist, John Selolwane.

It is Selolwane who mentored him on the instrument.  Mosele recalls that when he started playing music, he was the youngest member of their band. 

After the shows, the big boys would often order him to go and sleep. 
His experience with Masekela led to bigger things like sharing the stage with renowned stars like Peter Gabriel.

However, Mosele's major break was when they were recording Motlalepula album with Masekela at the TechnoBush studio at the Woodpecker outside Gaborone.

 He could not believe it when the South Africa group, Soul Brothers joined them in the studio. 

'I was excited when Hugh told me that we were going to record with Soul Brothers,' he says.

After hitting Europe big time, Mosele did not want to return to Botswana.  He felt there was no big challenge.  'After tasting the big stage, it was difficult to come back.' The reputation of their group, Kalahari, opened doors for Mosele in London where he was hired as a session musician.  Later he enrolled at one of London's music colleges. 

After completing his course, he moved to Oslo with his Norwegian wife. 

Mosele also attributes his success in music to hard work.  He says he does not leave anything to chance.  When there is a show he works so hard on the preparations that he would not even eat.

'I am still working hard.  I don't give up for no reason,' he says about his philosophy.   Mosele, who has been doing music for close to three decades, is planning his retirement. 
He intends to run a record label in the country once he stops playing.

He has identified so much talent in this country that he would like to groom.

Like the old saying goes, behind every successful man there is woman, Mosele also attributes his achievements partly to his supportive Norwegian wife. 

The couple have four children who are still attending school.

Mosele has been sponsored by the Norwegian Arts Council to record his album.
Mosele says he does not forget the support that he is given by Batswana. 
His music sells more in Botswana than in any other country.