My musical journey

Source : KUTLWANO

Author : Mpho Mponwane

Location : GABORONE

Event : Opinion

If you have followed the Botswana Television Show, Melodi Ya Kgalaletso, you maybe familiar with the signature tune or logo music that features my lead voice.

My journey in the music world as a performer, recording artist, songwriter, and producer, which includes four albums with fifty original and recorded songs and two other works, started many years ago when I was a child.

I always had an inclination to music. As far as I can remember, my parents, uncles and others elderly to me, say that I used to sing along side the likes of Mpharanyane and other western singers as their powerful voices pounded through radio stereos. I was so heavily influenced that I imagined myself composing such powerful songs. 

I trace some of the strong Christian influences in my life to my prayerful grandmother. Influences such as hers and my interest as a youth in religious literature finally resulted in me, early choosing to be a Christian.

This choice, together with my interest in music, got me involved in singing groups at Church. Since, congregational singing among Adventists, the Church I fellowship with, places much emphasis on a balance between melody, harmony and rhythm, I seem to have early learnt to use these musical tools as a child.

Although as a child I did believe I had the ability to compose music, I never did write any song until after I graduated with my theology degree from Solusi University, June 2001.

Nonetheless, my ability to write was established early at senior secondary school. I had a love for catch phrases, figures of speech and other interesting language expressions.

This coupled with my love for reading finally paid off, placing me among top essay writers and once assisting me score the highest mark in the school for the regional essay competitions.  I believe this together with my love for music prepared me for my music career.

In all, I have 5 musical works and 1 non-musical work that I have registered with the Copyright Society of Botswana (CosBots). I am also a member of the Botswana Musicians Union.

My songs are of the genre ranging from Inspirational to Contemporary gospel music. It is the type that goes beyond the traditional base with the intent of reaching a more musically diverse audience. In some songs one cannot help but take note of some Jazz rhythmic progressions and patterns produced by the piano playing of such gifted piano players such as Gcina Nhlapo and Michael Ndlovu. 

Initially, as a performer, I did not plan to record all original music albums. My friends and family had confidence in me and encouraged me to go on that path less travelled.

The first of my works is the musical album ‘Hail the King`, produced by Alex Mwesa, December 2005. It was recorded at Sine Wave Productions. It is a collection of songs I had been writing the last four years of my singing career. ‘Hail the King` is an album of 10 songs.  I was certainly learning the trade when I came up with this album.

A year later, I felt a little confident as a writer and decided to do another album. ‘Tell the World` with 10 tracks was released in December 2006. This album was produced in South Africa at Bionic Records by Gcina Nhlapo; with the assistance of Alex Mwesa who helped create a good number of the tracks.

It was the busiest time of my life. After all this hard work, the Lord allowed me opportunities to audiences in a couple of countries like South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

This exposure gave a healthy critique to my music and helped me to grow. Somehow, I sensed I needed to keep writing and keep growing so as to create even more developed products in the future.

The next production on my musical work was not an album but a signature tune that has functioned as logo music for The Botswana Television Program called ‘Melodi Ya Kgalaletso`. This was the second Setswana song I wrote.

When I brought the tune to the sound engineers and designers, they told me they loved it and a year later it was was aired on the program. As I visit with schools to do motivation, when the teachers introduce me to the students as the lead-baritone voice on the ‘Melodi Ya Kgalaletso` signature tune, the credit appears to encourage them to listen to me. 

Following the production of ‘Melodi Ya Kgalaletso` I moved to Gaborone to work as a Sales Consultant for Home Health Education Service for two years, the organization I currently lead as publishing director.

It was mid-way this period that I started composing songs that were to form the album ‘Better Things`. My co-producer in this album is the broadminded soundtrack creator, Shathiso Aaron.

The recording of this album at Aonios Studios took a period of about 10 months. Its theme is meaning and purpose. The moments of inspiration and the music resulting from this album highlight this fact. It is encouraging to me that this album, written during one of the toughest phases of my life, should bring out such themes of encouragement. 

‘Arise! Shine! Jesus is Coming!` is my fifth musical work. The major poetic experiences in the writing of this album commenced in December of 2012 when I wrote the song ‘This is the Love of God`.

This is the song currently doing its rounds in whatsapps. With more than 200 views on YouTube in less than a month, it is promising to be one of the favorites. The other favorites are; ‘Free in Jesus`, a song I wrote after my robbery experience in Mochudi, and ‘What Dreams are Made of` – a motivational song that features the great lead tenor voice of soloist Batsile Mogotsi.

The well arranged back-up vocals in this album are credited to Lebo and Rosi Mabotho, and their team. Playing important roles are Michael Ndlovu on piano, Shathiso Aaron on production, as well as Dargie Digital Studios on recording and mastering. 

My first video production is ‘Arise! Shine! Jesus is Coming!` Volume 1. I am glad to say that the music videos in this DVD are being aired on Melodi Ya Kgalaletso Gospel Show.

My friends and fans will be happy to know that come December 2015 I will also be celebrating my tenth anniversary as a performer and recording musician. This anniversary album is planned to feature some of their favorite songs.

Best of all, God willing, I look forward to producing an all Setswana songs album to celebrate my mother tongue and cultural heritage in not so long a time. A website to give an update of all these events and activities will be operational end of this month.

Finally, I am indebted to God for the gift of music that he has given me and my supporters and well-wishers who have assisted me one way or the other. To them I would like to give my heart felt thank you. ENDS