28 Jun 2016

A Francistown- based artiste management agency, Lefloe’s Entertainment, conducted a listening session for its first ever artist Ma Hazell.

Speaking in an interview during the listening session recently one of the artiste and repertoire agents, Kaelo Badubi said the company started with Ma Hazell’s Mandiri album and is anticipating managing and promoting three more artistes before the end of the year.

She said the company was formed in 2014 after the realisation that there was untapped talent in Francistown and in most cases people with such are unemployed and by scouting and developing them they could help them put bread on the table. 

She said although the company started with upcoming gospel artiste in Francistown it was not restricted and would not want to miss assisting other artistes in different genres. “My husband, Levy Badubi, who is our producer has been in the music industry since the late nineties and has so far worked with the likes of Tshepo Lesole and Master Dee in Gaborone.”

She said while Levy had been doing in-house production without going out it was 2014 that they decided to be in the public domain.

Mosalagae “Zara” Phemelo who is also an artiste and repertoire agent said one of the intentions  of their company was to build an empire that would not only put bread on the artists’ tables but would also diversify the economy.

“We want to have artistes who will have monthly income and contribute to the community’s welfare,” said Zara.

The company’s producer, Levy, observed that there were a lot of underprivileged people who did not use their talents. 

He said his company wanted to produce quality music that could sell even abroad and “having been in the music industry for some time we already know what is needed to produce such quality.”

Levy said the one of the aims of the company was to take gospel across to different audience using music in any forms such as kwasakwasa, house, jazz and others.

Speaking about the album, Mandiri, Kaelo said the seven track album will do well in the market as it catered for listeners across as it had variety.

Masego Tshabangu or Ma Hazell said the first track, which is also the name of the album, Mandiri is a Shona song which translates to In me and the last track which also features Levy is house song and is dubbed Tinotenda.

Ma Hazell explained that the album has two Shona, three Setswana and one English songs and the other one, which is also the title tracks is instrumental. Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture district coordinator, Minkie Bokole commended Lefloe’s for assisting her ministry in developing young people. She encouraged other youth who have experience to emulate Lefloe’s and assist upcoming artistes without waiting for any funding from the government. Ends