How Masekela inspired Woki to international stages

Woki gets emotional at one of his performances in the United Kingdom last month.
Woki gets emotional at one of his performances in the United Kingdom last month.

It all started in Gaborone more than three decades ago. Renowned jazzman Hugh Masekela joined a group of young musicians and inspired them to dream big.

The group led by Aubrei Woki had just formed a jazz band called Kalahari and were blessed to attract one of the genre’s most respected players to join them.

Masekela had just returned from exile in the United States of America in the early 80s and sought temporary residence in Botswana. The saxophonist was in South African apartheid regime’s “wanted” list.

Editor's Comment
Use social media to build, not destro

It is a warning flare to every Motswana who logs onto social media. As a country, we have reached a point where the line between robust debate and outright destruction has become dangerously blurred. At face value, Mabeo’s response, which seeks an apology and threat of a defamation suit, might seem severe to some. But we cannot ignore the context. The comment in question did not offer a policy critique or question a political decision.It...

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