11 Jan 2015

The lead singer for a young gospel group in Tsabong known as Bokang Gospel Choir has left the group and gone solo.

Omphemetse Lucky has decided to release his own album after two albums that they composed in five years when he was still lead singer in the group.

Lucky who hails from Kolonkwaneng said singing has been a big part of his life which he discovered when he was still at primary school.

“When I was at Middlepits Junior Secondary School, my home boys and I decided to form a gospel choir as a way of having fun and keeping ourselves from things that get us into trouble,” he revealed.

Lucky was born a healthy child, but developed a kind of disability in 2004 due to prolonged illness. He said his illness started when he was doing form four in 2003 and he dropped out of school because he could not be able to continue with his studies.

After a year he went back to school and he failed again to complete his studies. In 2004 his illness took a bad twist and he started to frequent the hospital beds.

“It was the most difficult time of my life as I was not able to do the things that I used to.  I could not walk and  went back to be the child who could not do anything for himself and my family was doing everything for me and that was the time when we discovered my disability,” he stated.

From 2004 to 2008 he spent his time in hospital, in 2008 he was discharged and referred home based care unit since he was in and out of hospital and his family was taking care of him from home.

He noted his condition made him feel lifeless but the support and encouragement he got from family and friends kept him going by making him to become stronger daily and this also gave him a positive perspective regarding his disability.

Spending many years in bed made him to think that his dream for being a gospel artiste has vanished but he tried his best to put his faith in God as he was spending most of his time reading his bible and his hymn book was always by his side.

 “That kept me going regardless of my disability and the negative comments I got from people. I told myself I should not let anyone to underestimate me. I stood up to do what I believed could heal my inner self first and that was by following gospel music,” he noted.

He said gospel singing gives him hope, joy and confidence to tackle life as it comes. A confident young man wants his life journey to be an example to others in their community and families.

He received his wheelchair in 2009 from the Home based care takers and it was the best time of his life as it has boosted his confidence.

Lucky ventured into music industry through Bokang gospel choir in 2009 although his mother did not want him to rush into any decision because she was overprotective and she did not want anything that will hurt him.

He said being new in the music industry is hard because one has to come up with something concrete that will make customers to notice one’s product. Bokang gospel choir is made up of young people who are family and friends.

“People in my place do not follow gospel music that much and this can demoralise you as a person but you always have to be strong enough to cross all the bridgesmof life,” he added. He said they chose gospel music because it brings people closer to God and it can motivate people in their daily lives.

He said the other reason is that the entire group members were raised in families that strongly believe in God and they grew up going to church every Sunday.

The gospel singer noted that his group has been singing in shopping malls as a way of taking their music to the community.

He said he has been trying to ask for invitation from event organizers so that people can recognize them. He stressed that they volunteered to perform for free in other events as a way of giving their followers what they do best and that was singing.

He said gospel music is a difficult career to get into but only passionate, confident and determined artistes can survive it.

Lucky has decided to go his own way because the other group members are away due to other commitments, and therefore difficult to meet as a group.

The determined young artiste said hopefully his album will be released this year and his music will be about his life. He revealed that he decided to deliberately write songs about himself because he want people to remember him by his music and he want to encourage people like him to stay strong and live up to their dream.

He further said that his work is about his live, the struggles that he went through, his prolong illness thatleft him in a wheelchair, the reaction that he got from the society and how the bible gave him hope.

 He mentioned that many people have experienced what he has been through but they do not have the courage to stand up for themselves.

“The major challenge that I’m facing is transport. In some cases the social workers do assist but I cannot always depend on them,” he added.

Lucky encouraged people to buy original CDs because they depend on music for survival, but if people copy it, it’s bad for their business.

He said the community does not give them enough support that they need as artistes since there are events that take place in their district but they are never invited to perform.

“The use of talent for living can change lives, helps to keep young people off the streets and that can be essential to the community as well as the country at large,” he added.

He encouraged all families that have members livingwith disability  not to hide them rather let them get all the opportunities like everyone else.

“Everyone has the right to education and if you have other talents you may use it to sustain your living. Disability is not inability,” he revealed. ENDS