A Chit Chat with Botswana’s Jazz Sensation

Source : Kutlwano

Author : Calviniah Kgautlhe

Location : GABORONE

Event : Interview

After seemingly hiding behind the microphone as a back-up vocalist for over a decade in the thick shadows of renowned jazz maestros in Ndingo Johwa, the late Duncan Senyatso, Shanti Lo and many other reputable local Jazz artists, Nnunu Ramogotsi would finally come out of her shell to release her debut album, Mmasonoko. Released about two years ago, the album has undoubtedly firmly anchored her on the music platform, taking the lady of jazz far beyond Botswana`s borders.

The award winning, flamboyant songbird who has travelled the world delivering rich palpable folklore Jazz renditions in Germany, Sweden, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, recently basked in the limelight of her music when she featured in South Africa`s prime time television show, Morning Live.

Her tight Afro Jazz beat is said to be available in well over 300 websites and can be bought online. To get a sneak peek into the talented singer, Kutlwano`s Calviniah Kgautlhe meets her for a chit chat.

Cal: Hi! You are all creamy…skimpy, looking good, smelling good! Doing good hei?

Nnunu:  Yaah well, thank you girl, I`m doing good, thank you soooh – soooh much for inviting me.… (Smiles softly)

Cal: mmmh…Somebody smells good!

Nnunu: Ooh, no girl it`s the latest top of the range cologne… (Pauses and winks naughtily).

Calviniah: Great, smells like success hei, wonderful, Nnunu Ramogotsi seems to be fast growing ever since your debut Mmasonoko in 2012, it`s quite interesting to see how you`ve grown in music over the years, kindly take us through your music journey? 

Nnunu: Nnunu mma ke ngwanyana wa ko Ramotswa but I grew up in Lobatse, Tlokweng and Gaborone. I am Catholic. I started singing in church at a very tender age and my mother`s voice still echoes in my mind when she told me at the time that I would make a good singer someday. I come from a family of singers and have always been involved in singing. Professionally, I started with KTM Choir which was directed by Gomolemo Motswaledi...

Calviniah: When you grew up did you always know you wanted a career in singing?

Nnunu: No, not really. I knew I had always enjoyed singing, I never knew where it would land me. I have never been to a music school. I was raised in a family of singers. It`s just talent that was nurtured from a tender age. Gomolemo Motswaledi found me soon after completing form five at just 19 years of age and molded me under KTM choir because of the attributes he saw in me. He then introduced me to his friend, Duncan Senyatso, who wanted to release his debut album and needed backing vocalists. After working with Duncan Senyatso, I then worked with Ndingo Johwa. In fact I was amongst the first girls to record his debut album with him…then followed Bo Soccer, Lister, Banjo Mosele and all other Jazz artists. I sang with different artists for more than 10 years.

Calviniah: Ok, so you were working on gaining experience?

Nnunu: Oh no, I was enjoying singing with them, arranging music with some but I never really gave it too much thought that I could start on my own… but knowing people, they encouraged me to release an album until I released my debut album Mmasonoko in 2012.

Calviniah: Interesting, how did the album perform?

Nnunu: The album performed exceptionally well, and has won Best Album of the Year and I won Best Female Artist of the Year in the same year of release, and since then it`s been blessings after blessings, as I travel the world with the same album... it`s currently being sold online and doing exceptionally well in well over 300 websites (smiles).

Calviniah: Oh really! Quite professionally done. We recently saw your big interview on SABC`s Live morning show, how did you land that interview?

Nnunu: I have a manager, Street Horn, who handles the Nnunu Ramogotsi brand. As for the interview, the SABC producers followed me up on social networks - Facebook, Twitter and all over the internet - to find out who was recently trending in Botswana and they called to invite me for their show which has given me quite some marketing mileage given their coverage level.

Calviniah: So, when is the next album coming?

Nnunu: Right now I`m in studio. I`m writing songs for my second album. Mmasonoko was tightly packed and I`m planning to release an even hotter album next year. I`m working on collaborating with as many artists as I can including collabs with Chinese artists. I will use my cultural exchange that I gained as I travelled the world. We are working on penetrating and performing more in South Africa this year.

Calviniah: Sure Nnunu, all the best.

Nnunu:   Thank you dear.