12 May 2017

Local artiste known to his fans as Ounah and also well remembered for his song Ingwe Mabalabala has gone an extra mile in working with SA legends such as Sechaba Pali and the late Lundi Tyamara in his latest offering.

The talented artiste who hails from Mahalapye  with real names Onalenna Keitseope is not only a musician but also a junior school teacher by profession.

In an interview, he noted that his music career started in 1997 at church where he was helping during sermons to translate and he then joined the church choir at Kingdom Life Christian Church and learnt a lot about singing.

Growing up being a Christian under the fear of God inspired him to do gospel music and he found it fit to give honour, glory and praise to God as He has done more for him and has nothing to pay back to God but rather offer the sacrifice of giving praise which he also feels is not enough.

With five albums to his name, he has also just shelved two of them and he confidently has three released being Jesu o Lokile which has a DVD, Jealous God and the latest offering You Are not Alone which has15 tracks.

You Are Not Alone was recorded in Johannesburg and it was officially released this year January 2017.

He recorded the album with the assistance of Sechaba Pali who acted as a coach by giving him direction on how proper music is sung and recorded.

He also worked with the late Lundi Tyamara whom he featured in a song called Uphakeme and also featured Thando Makhaphela who sings for Spirit of Praise and Women in Praise in a song titled Ke sena wena.

He noted that performing live and recording live is key hence some of his songs being Hold on featuring a five-year-old Samuel and Ingwe Mabalabala were taken from his live recording from Mochudi.

His latest offering was mixed and mastered by John Black Mthembu at Black Dog Productions in Johannesburg, while marketing and distribution of his music is done by him and he is also the executive producer for his songs.

He has a DVD for the album Jesu o lokile and he has shot a music video for one song Ke sena wena from his latest album but the video is not yet released .

Ounah said one thing that he desired was to seek God and stay in His house forever.

“I shall continually give praises to the king. I am always looking at ways of being relevant to our days in terms of sound and style of music. I see myself doing different style from Africa but still with power and anointing from my father Jesus Christ,” he said.

The local star noted that he has performed in many shows locally and outside Botswana such as Honey Worship Tour featuring Major 1 Trio tour where the Trio was awarded certificate in the success of the show being the first paid event to fill up Stanbic Bank Piazza to its capacity, he has performed alongside accomplished  artistes like Phempheretlhe Pheto, Mathews Matsetse, Vee’s I do album launch, Spirit of Praise, Sechaba Pali and others.

He advised the youth to strive for excellence and perfection which could only be achievable through patience and humility, adding that the world could be confusing to upcoming stars and they may end up in drugs and alcoholism which could ruin their future but above all, youth should commit their ways to God as in God they would be sure of their future. ENDS