27 Mar 2014

Years after riding the hard patch of the local music industry, Mingo Touch has finally found a new lease of life.

The once popular and self-acclaimed king of kwaito kwasa Mingo, real name Aminoni Mujokeri, is elated about his reunion with undisputedly the god father of the genre, Odirile 'Vee' Sento.

In real fact, the partnership dates back to 2005 when Vee unearthed Mingo’s raw talent in the dusty streets of Gaborone West where he performed with the now defunct group only known as Zinos.

Back then Mingo did exceptionally well under the Black Money Makers stable and immediately shot to prominence. The following day he was on studio working with Vee on his ground breaking album titled Tshaba Tsotsi, with its catchy fusion of kwasa-kwasa and kwaito and was to become a launching pad for his music career.

Despite a dry spell after the release of Tshaba Tsotsi Mingo kept his head high above the muddy waters and kept his fingers crossed that “one day will be one day”, a famous expression in his G-wawa location.

Mingo exploded back onto the scene in 2008 with the release of Go tla Loka (it will be well), an album many thought was hitting out at his former record label after a deal gone sour.

The album and those that followed hit a snag and were ignored largely owing to the booming House music that had crossed the South African borders into our shores. Nevertheless it was the same albums that laid a solid foundation that the 23 year old youngster want to revive.

Speaking of his reunion with Vee, Mingo speaks with the excitement of a young puppy on the verge of some new or exciting discovery. Just like any other young and usually successful artiste Mingo battled social ills and addictions but has subsequently changed his path and turned to God.

“I have now asked God for forgiveness and I’m now leaving a clean life. I realised that the only way I am going to succeed was to get closer to God,” he added.

For fear of disgracing his God fearing family, he joined the True Bread Centre, a church where Vee is a church elder. Vee in his own right is a musical prodigy and Mingo the street hardened gravel voiced talent are likely to forge a totally unique and addictively fresh offering.

The new album remains a closed book until it hit the shelves and Vee features on the upcoming single Thuntsha. Ends