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“Gospel house crew eager to take next step”

February 1st, 2016

Moses Mokoanene picA popular music group in Botswana is reaching audiences and gaining fans, but as Moses Mokoanene, 25, a Correspondent from Lethakeng in Botswana writes, the group faces hurdles getting that elusive first album released.

It is not easy for every upcoming artist to have a warm welcome in the music industry.

For about five years, this group has been creating waves in Letlhakeng and surrounding villages with their performances, their home-made quality gospel house and afro pop tunes touching fans.

Zobas Crew, as they are known to their fans, features vocalists Seabe ‘Lettie’ Tlhose, 18, as lead female vocalist and dancer, Bojosi ‘Mandos’ Pelaelo, 24, Aobakwe ‘Ozzie’ Bongalo, 23, and producer Kebadiretse ‘Nazarioh’ Gaotlhobelwe, 30. The group is still struggling financially to drop its first album.

“We have a full gospel house album that we started in 2011. We want it to hit shelves but we do not have enough money to take the album to much modernized recording studios,” Gaotlhobelwe said.

He also described how their title song, “Sedilaka”, is the one that gathered more fans for them as they used it to conduct concerts, trying to raise some funds for their album.

He described this song as a touching song that speaks of looking up to God and asking for help, as they have a long road but are reaping nothing.

Zobas Crew is a well-known group that also records and dedicates wedding songs with messages to the newlywed couples.

Windy Samojako described the youthful crews’s talent as God-given. She shed tears on her wedding day, where she invited Zobas Crew to entertain at her wedding ceremony in December 2014.

“I started crying as the song ‘Se ile Sephonono’ started with my husband and my names in the song, because it was a surprise. They denied me from visiting them at their recording session,” Mrs. Samojako said.

Zobas Crew has shared stage with artists such as Kgobola, Machesa, Flexyville and Dedcoh in Letlhakeng.
The crew leader, Gaotlhobelwe, said he is willing to take his crew to the next high level. He wishes to listen to their songs played over radio stations.

Gaotlhobelwe said that he worked with a traditional group named Tsetse Fly in October, 2010, as backing artist and composer before forming Zobas Crew.

He said their album is a full-track masterpiece. 
Another group member, Mandos, (as known in stage) said his role model is ‘Vee Mampeezy’, considered by some as the best gospel house music king in Botswana.

“We are always with music legends like Kgobola in studio, to help us in penetrating the music industry” Mandos added.

He also said that they always get regards from parents and the crowds at wedding performances every time they leave the stage.

The only female vocalist/dancer, Seabe, or ‘Lettie’ as she is known to her fans, said that she is always putting the crew’s hopes before God, for help to find someone to help them financially to release their first album.

“Blessed is the hand that gives than that takes, so we are asking for interested company or person to help our group” Lettie said.

Photo credit: courtesy of Moses Mokoanene

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About me:

I am a young man who likes socialising. I worked with Ga-Motshoto Investments as a Graphic designer for two years, and started working with Information Services as a freelance journalist in 2013.

I like exploring new places and would like to be a businessman in the future. Since I worked with Department of Information Services, I have gained much experience and would like to further my qualifications in journalism or broadcasting.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Commonwealth Youth Programme. Articles are published in a spirit of dialogue, respect and understanding. If you disagree, why not submit a response.
To learn more about becoming a Commonwealth Correspondent please visit: http://www.yourcommonwealth.org/submit-articles/commonwealthcorrespondents/

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Moses Mokoanene picA popular music group in Botswana is reaching audiences and gaining fans, but as Moses Mokoanene, 25, a Correspondent from Lethakeng in Botswana writes, the group faces hurdles getting that elusive first album released.

It is not easy for every upcoming artist to have a warm welcome in the music industry.

For about five years, this group has been creating waves in Letlhakeng and surrounding villages with their performances, their home-made quality gospel house and afro pop tunes touching fans.

Zobas Crew, as they are known to their fans, features vocalists Seabe ‘Lettie’ Tlhose, 18, as lead female vocalist and dancer, Bojosi ‘Mandos’ Pelaelo, 24, Aobakwe ‘Ozzie’ Bongalo, 23, and producer Kebadiretse ‘Nazarioh’ Gaotlhobelwe, 30. The group is still struggling financially to drop its first album.

“We have a full gospel house album that we started in 2011. We want it to hit shelves but we do not have enough money to take the album to much modernized recording studios,” Gaotlhobelwe said.

He also described how their title song, “Sedilaka”, is the one that gathered more fans for them as they used it to conduct concerts, trying to raise some funds for their album.

He described this song as a touching song that speaks of looking up to God and asking for help, as they have a long road but are reaping nothing.

Zobas Crew is a well-known group that also records and dedicates wedding songs with messages to the newlywed couples.

Windy Samojako described the youthful crews’s talent as God-given. She shed tears on her wedding day, where she invited Zobas Crew to entertain at her wedding ceremony in December 2014.

“I started crying as the song ‘Se ile Sephonono’ started with my husband and my names in the song, because it was a surprise. They denied me from visiting them at their recording session,” Mrs. Samojako said.

Zobas Crew has shared stage with artists such as Kgobola, Machesa, Flexyville and Dedcoh in Letlhakeng.
The crew leader, Gaotlhobelwe, said he is willing to take his crew to the next high level. He wishes to listen to their songs played over radio stations.

Gaotlhobelwe said that he worked with a traditional group named Tsetse Fly in October, 2010, as backing artist and composer before forming Zobas Crew.

He said their album is a full-track masterpiece. 
Another group member, Mandos, (as known in stage) said his role model is ‘Vee Mampeezy’, considered by some as the best gospel house music king in Botswana.

“We are always with music legends like Kgobola in studio, to help us in penetrating the music industry” Mandos added.

He also said that they always get regards from parents and the crowds at wedding performances every time they leave the stage.

The only female vocalist/dancer, Seabe, or ‘Lettie’ as she is known to her fans, said that she is always putting the crew’s hopes before God, for help to find someone to help them financially to release their first album.

“Blessed is the hand that gives than that takes, so we are asking for interested company or person to help our group” Lettie said.

Photo credit: courtesy of Moses Mokoanene

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

About me:

I am a young man who likes socialising. I worked with Ga-Motshoto Investments as a Graphic designer for two years, and started working with Information Services as a freelance journalist in 2013.

I like exploring new places and would like to be a businessman in the future. Since I worked with Department of Information Services, I have gained much experience and would like to further my qualifications in journalism or broadcasting.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Commonwealth Youth Programme. Articles are published in a spirit of dialogue, respect and understanding. If you disagree, why not submit a response.
To learn more about becoming a Commonwealth Correspondent please visit: http://www.yourcommonwealth.org/submit-articles/commonwealthcorrespondents/

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………