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The music industry celebrates Lekofi's life

Lekofi PIC. THALEFANG CHARLES
Lekofi PIC. THALEFANG CHARLES

The music industry is mourning the death of former Afro Sunshine keyboard player Lekofi Sejeso. Afro Sunshine is the legendary, top Afro pop group formed in the 80s popularly known for that classic ‘This is Afrika’ album which contained hits like Ma Basket and Tote. The eight-track album included tracks; Afro Sunshine, Mmaebeke, Ma Basket, Tote, Sisi Langeni and Re ba lebile. Sejeso composed almost all the songs on the album except Mmaebeke, which was done by Gino Maposa

Although the group disbanded and became defunct, Sejeso continued his keyboard wizardry and later formed a group called Just Friends before going solo. His involvement in music goes as far back as 1974 when he was still a youngster . During that time, Sejeso teamed up with the likes of Banjo Mosele, Keletso Rakhudu, Ofentse Moagi, Billy Mahloane and Wanetso Masire. He also formed Kalahari with the likes of John Selolwane. In 2000, The Lobatse born and bred Lekofi recorded an album for the Botswana Football Association (BFA) to promote the Zebras. Lekofi was also a member of The Trans-Kalahari Quintet (TKQ) which is an instrumental Afro-jazz ensemble comprised of musicians from the United States, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. After being a regular keyboard players for TKQ Sejeso managed to tour and participate in cultural exchange programmes throughout Africa and other continents. After Sejeso joined the Afro-jazz fusion band, TKQ released two albums, Back to Basics in 2015 and No Longer Strangers in 2018. Sejeso was also a resident at the Grand Palm Hotel & Casino. The keyboard virtuoso was also part of the Re Batswana Music Ensemble that fused folk, traditional, Afro jazz and modern jazz music.

The Group’s managing director was the late director of Street Horn, Soares Katumbela. In 2016, Sejeso toured Europe with some members of the Ensemble such as Lister Boleseng (Music director), song bird Nnunu Ramogotsi, legendary musician Ndingo Johwa backed by Chedza Majwabe as the backing Singer, Sakkie Nonong as the bassist, Andrew Chinganga on saxophone, Kopano Mantswe on percussions and Leroy Nyoni on drums. Sejeso shared the stage with the late Hugh Masekela, Salif Keita, UB 40, the Commodores, Shaba Ranks and a host of other international artists. In an interview with Arts & Culture, an artist who worked with Sejeso for a very long time, Nnunu Ramogotsi said she has known Sejeso when she was young through songs like Ma basket. Ramogotsi said she first met Sejeso when she was a backing vocalist for the late Duncan Senyatso and Ndingo Johwa in 1998.

Editor's Comment
Micro-procurement maze demands urgent reform

Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...

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