13 Aug 2017

Established disco music artists have a genuine reason to be fearful of the newly launched Mofokeng disco album which is currently gobling local  airwaves especially  Radio Botswana (RB).

Mofokeng, which is a tribute to the Phoka clan in the Sotho ethnic stock, is a mature 10-track disco album under Tlokweng born and bred Neo Azarinah Lekomola, who has roots in the Basotho ancestral grouping.

Neo, who is known as Chesa on stage, is a hyper active lady who exudes high level of self-confidence and does not hide her love for Pantsula music, which some associate with exaggerated tricksters.

Chesa’s music love comes from the influence of her elder brother, who is a fan of disco godfather of famed Splash band Dan Tshanda aka the Big Husband.

She noted that the love of this music propelled her to meet Tshanda and his stable partners; Peacock, Daloom Kids and Patricia Majalisa among others.

Chesa, who is also an accountant assistant with Aon Botswana, a financial broker company, excitedly revealed that she has backed some of these bands while she closely worked with Majalisa on the front on numerous occasions. By so doing she was able to acquire music skills which helped her to release her first album titled Sibongile.

But on a scale of 10 one could easily give her 8.5 when rating her second album, Mofokeng, which she said is doing well in the market both locally and in South Africa, where there is burning passion for this Pantsula music. She is currently on the plan to take it to Maun where it is not yet available.

She has been promoting her album through local disco artists’ initiative where they come together and stage concerts in unison. Some of them include Black Eye, S’fiso, Khosa, MCee, and Mr Hippo who has just joined them.

They were recently in Kopong, where they did not disappoint heir audience.

Chesa says she finds time for her music sojourns because her job does not entail weekends.  She however thanked Thabile Mazolwana, Budwe Maki, and Mpendulo Dandile for the assistance they offered in her new album.
 

The easy going lass, who is recovering from medical surgery, is a member of St. Marks Service Church but ironically she says it is difficult to state her favourite song in her album, which is fast gaining momentum with Pantsula lovers.

Songs found in the album are; Mosadi Enwa, Matlhogonolo, Phoka, Jehova, Gender Equality, Intshwarele, Tsala Yame, Commando, Sthandwa and Lerato.  One thing which listeners should avoid is falling victim to thinking that Chesa is Patricia Majalisa or Slindile because of voice similarity.

All songs are composed by Neo except track 8 by Thabile Mazolwana. Backing vocals are  Khoza, Kamogelo Moswane and Mazolwana. All songs are produced, programmed and recoded by Tando Zinto at Bullet Music Productions. ENDS