Great music and an appreciative crowd were the order of the day at Gaborone Sun’s TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday) event held this past Friday at the hotel. The TGIF event, which happens every fortnight, is one of the Business hotel’s initiatives that aims to entertaining guests and creating a fun evening for their loyal clients. This past weekend, guests were treated to an intimate performance by Afro Jazz legend Tshepo Tshola who is no stranger to performing in Botswana.
Lesotho born Tshola, who is a legend in his own right, has performed with the likes of Hugh Masekela and has toured Botswana extensively back in his 80s hay-days alongside his band Kalahari, playing gigs at Gaborone’s old clubs like the Woodpecker Inn, Club 500 and at Oasis Motel.
Despite the bad weather and the pouring rain, fans danced to the powerful music and sang along to the legend’s songs as he performed his all time popular hits Madambadamba, Hey wena Afrika, Shine your light, When the roll is called up, Yonda and others. As the lyrics to Tshepo’s iconic song which goes, “Hey wena Afrika! Kgale o dutse hae. Tsamaya o yo iketsetse tsa bophela. Tsoha o iketsetse”, echoed in the rain which gradually worsened, the band eventually wrapped it up and ended a special evening that the few who had the luck of attending will surely remember fondly.
“It is very unfortunate that the rain cut the event short, because people looked like they were having fun. Luckily, by the time the rain started, Tshepo was already far ahead into his set and just about to wrap up. I guess that in future we will have these sort of events in doors to avoid unpredictable encounters with the weather,” said Gaborone Sun’s Marketing Manager, Potlako Mawande.
“The show was good. It is remarkable that Tshepo still has such energy, even years later. He is a great entertainer and we really enjoyed the show” said Tuli Johnson, former Barclay’s bank M.D and invited guest at the event.