How Masekela inspired Woki to international stages
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Woki gets emotional at one of his performances in the United Kingdom last month.
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.
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...