BY FIONA MOTSA
MBABANE-In the spirit of love, Legendary International jazz artist Don Laka has roped in Eswatini afro-jazz musician Bholoja to join him on tour.
The tour is set to take place on March 4, 2023 at Elangeni Lodge in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
During an interview with musician Bholoja, real name Mbongiseni Ngubane, revealed he was excited about joining the legendary maestro on his tour.
“The tour caters for people who enjoy listening to Jazz music. Jazz music is healing and gets you in touch with your feelings.
“I am excited to be on Don Laka’s tour because I am an Afro- Jazz musician myself and working with a legendary jazz artist like Don because I grow musically by being around someone who knows music,” said Ngubane.
Bholoja further mentioned he was ready for giving a powerful performance.
“If you are on the same stage as Don Laka, you cannot do a shoddy job. I will be bringing my A-game with me on that stage and ensure that people have a fun time,” said the musician.
About Don Laka
According to Wikipedia Don Laka was born Donald Mahwetša Laka on 15 December 1958 in Mamelodi, Pretoria. Professionally known as Don Laka, is a South African jazz musician, songwriter and music producer, as well as the founder of “kwaai-jazz”.
Laka finished studying at the Royal Academy of Music with Grade 8 in classical guitar, but restrictions under the Apartheid regime kept him from enrolling at the Pretoria Conservatoire.
Don recorded his first major release with a group called “Oneness” before moving on to form his own band with Sello Twala, called Ymage. In their ten years together, they recorded approximately 12 LPs which led to their 1986 meeting with producer Tony Visconti, who produced ten of David Bowie’s albums, as well as works by Paul McCartney, T Rex and The Moody Blues.
During that time, the likes of Brenda Fassie would become interested in Don’s style, who would then ask if he could write, produce or perform on their records. Don also co-launched the record label that was to become Kalawa Jazmee, initially selling records from the boot of their cars before evolving to form a bigger structure.
Kalawa Jazmee was one of the first successful black-owned record companies in South Africa. He also appeared on most of Sankomota’s albums as a string and keyboard arranger, and in 1990 started writing larger orchestral arrangements for Sibongile Khumalo, who performed with the National Symphony Orchestra (South Africa). In 1991 he went on to collaborate with South African vocal legends Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Rebecca Malope. In 2013, Don Laka received a Grammy nomination for Best World Music CD for producing Hugh Masekela’s Jabulani in 2013.
