Apollo D remembers Sasa Klaas
Correspondent | Friday March 12, 2021 12:06
It was a complete pleasure to get to know this superwoman.
In 2011 while working on the Hip-hop TV show, The Foundation, a young Sasa Klass was recommended to me to audition for the co-host role of The Foundation. Needless to say her passion for hip-hop music and appreciation for local hip-hop made her perfect for the position.
Sasa Klaas was first known to me through mutual friends and I believe it was at a studio that we both would go to. She must have been in high school at the time. She was always with her lifetime best friend, Natora. The two of them were talented in their own right. Natora was the singer and Sasa Klaas the rapper.
What struck me from the earliest interaction with Sasa Klaas was her passion for the craft. She surprised me in our early days on set when she beatboxed impromptu for a poet at an event.
As time went on she began to grow into the powerhouse that she had become before her passing. Then consequently her confidence onscreen and in the studio began to grow more.
I remember how Sasa Klaas’ first single HADSAN became a fan favourite, but it was the two singles that followed that would propel her to superstardom. Firstly it was the smash hit A ke mo khandeng featuring legendary BW hip hop star, Scar, which won people’s hearts followed by VIB-produced hit Mma Mongwato.
So it was at that moment when it occurred to me that she was now an icon. Sasa Klaas championed many issues that were close to her heart that included women empowerment and gender abuse awareness.
She would go on to release a stream of mainstream hits including a stream of singles with Mochudi native Motswako artist, Baxon. One of her greatest qualities was her attributes and I admired how she was able to handle criticism. This quality and unapologetic persona would win her even more legions of fans.
At the time of her passing she was working on music and television projects. One of her collaborators, Jay Dot, revealed to me that they were supposed to go to Johannesburg (South Africa) to complete their video for the hit song ‘Headbangers’ which also features Scar as well as South African hip-hop star, Gigi Lemayne.
Botswana has lost a blossoming flower. Sasa Klaas was a talent not even at her peak and it is this that makes the loss very painful especially to those of us who knew exactly how talented she was.
She will remain a symbol of hope for many of us and her life will be celebrated for the eternity that her music will.
Rest in peace lil Sis
We will always love you
Apollo D