26 Apr 2018

 Award winning contemporary folk band, Sereetsi & the Natives is set to release their second album, Motoko on April 27.

The band’s front man Tomeletso Sereetsi said the sophomore album was much bigger and richer in sound compared to their first album and had more collaborators.

The Robete hit maker said the album was a special dedication to his late father who was named Motoko.

“This album is dedicated to the memory of my father who allowed a guitar into his house when many of my teen peers wouldn’t imagine bringing the instrument into households for fear of getting a hiding or being beaten to play such an instrument,”  he explained.

Back in the days, he said a guitar was a taboo and guitarists were seen as good for nothing people as they were associated with alcoholism and promiscuity and they were almost poor with no homes and money.

Sereetsi said Motoko was a Serolong name used to compliment. The album has 10 songs, which includes Maobenka, Mpopi, Mpopela and Kgatlha Thuu, which portrays everyday life issues that were uncounted by people and other songs in the album speaks love and happiness.

“Some songs are an encouragement for self-dependence. We need to discourage laziness and encourage the able-bodied to stand up and work for themselves and for their future generations,” he said.  Sereetsi has co-produced the album with Mikael Rosen who also plays keys, drums, and does some string arrangements.

He has also worked with Kagiso Mangole who plays the keyboard, Saakie Nonong on bass, Gomotsegang Rapoo on electric guitar, Leroy Nyoni on drums and US Native Terry Lewis II on alto saxophone.

“I also had Metal Orizion’s front man Dumisani Matiha translating a song I composed in English to Kalanga entitled Pasi Pa Nyolo,” he said.

Sereetsi & the Natives won many hearts with their first album Four String Confessions, which had songs such as Tha Kokome, Robete and Ke boletsa mongwe and has collaborated with US jazz band, Anthony Stanco and the Crucial Elements.

The album yielded four Botswana Music Awards in 2016 being the Best single, Best Male Artist, Best Folk Album and the Best Newcomer.

Sereetsi & the Natives is the first band in Botswana to tour South Africa and have also been featured at the Mahika Mahikeng Jazz Festival, Kgalagadi Jazz Festival, and the Cultural Calabash Fest among others. ENDS