KTM members mourn, pay tribute to Motswaledi

Gasebalwe Seretse | Friday August 8, 2014 10:55

 

Speaking to Arts & Culture, Afro-jazz songbird Nnunu Ramogotsi said that her interaction with the celebrated and multi-talented Motswaledi helped shape her life and career.

“I first met Motswaledi in 1998 after my conductor at St Conrad Church Choir in Ramotswa, Puso Phetoe, approached him and told him that there was a promising soloist that he should meet,” Ramogotsi said, adding that she auditioned to be part of KTM Choir in January of the same year, but only had the guts to join the choir in November. 

“I was fidgety about joining such a great choir,” Ramogotsi said.  She joined the group as a soloist and soprano.

She said that Motswaledi created many platforms for her while she was still a member of KTM Choir, something she will cherish forever.

She added it was the politician who helped her become a jazz artist by hooking her up with the late Duncan Senyatso. Ramogotsi went on to be a backing vocalist for some of Botswana’s top artists before embarking on a successful a solo career.

Ramogotsi hailed Motswaledi as a great lover of Setswana culture, who always encouraged her to express herself musically in Setswana.

“You will notice that most of my songs are Setswana traditional folk songs.  I could have easily sung in English, but Motswaledi really encouraged me to sing in my mother tongue,” she said.

The distraught artist said that Motswaledi had even offered to help produce her forthcoming album.

“We have lost a great man and I am so devastated because I was still expecting to learn a lot from him,” Ramogotsi said.

Another Afro-jazz songbird Punah Gabasiane told Arts & Culture that Motswaledi recruited her from Ditlholwana Traditional Group, which was under the late Judith Sefhako.

“I joined KTM Choir in 1996 after going through auditions like everybody else and being part of the group helped make me who I am today,” she said.

Gabasiane further said it was after she had joined KTM as a soloist and alto that the two realised that they were related and their bond became even stronger.

She said it was Motswaledi who taught her botho as an integral part of the Setswana culture saying that even if you are talented but do not have botho, it would not have helped her career.

“Just before he died, Motswaledi contacted me to ask me and other members of Women of Jazz to support him at his launch.  I immediately informed the others but sadly, a few days later I heard of his unfortunate demise from a member of Women of Jazz,” she said.

Although Lizibo Simon is a ‘second generation’ member of KTM Choir, he said Motswaledi was his godfather and was always a part of his life.

“My father, Patrick Simon, was a close friend of Motswaledi so I grew up listening to KTM Choir.  When I started my music career, Motswaledi always encouraged  and supported my career,” he said, adding that Motswaledi was a father-figure to him.

The Afro-pop star said a few months ago, the politician gave him a traditional chair as a gift, adding that it will always be sentimental to him.

“Sometimes I just sit on the chair as a way of feeling close to him.  Motswaledi’s passing is a great loss to me because I have lost a godfather, father-figure and greatest mentor all rolled in one.  He was a very special person to me, a musical giant,” he said, adding that he will always cherish the moments he spent with Motswaledi.