GAZETTE REPORTER
Local jazz music veteran Socca Moruakgomo and jazz sensation Punah will be representing the country yet again on a European tour that will begin in Germany next month.
The jazz duo is already preparing for the European tour by staging farewell concerts around the country with the last one to be held in Gaborone prior to their departure next month. As part of the farewell performances they have already staged shows in Mochudi, Mahalapye and Palapye to date.
“We received an invitation through a German friend who once visited Botswana with his ensemble ‘The Kalahari Roses’ a few years ago. This time around they are the ones that have invited us to their country. Botswana and Germany have always had a bilateral relationship,” said an excited Moruakgomo.
The tour will see the duo performing across Germany including Frankfurt, Berlin, Hamburg, and Munich with a possibility of crossing over to Sweden where they might stage another performance around the country.
“Once we are in Germany things will be easy because there will be a lot of opportunities for us to tour other European countries such as Sweden, France and Holland,” revealed Moruakgomo.
Moruakgomo sees the tour as an opportunity for cultural and skills exchange as their band will be joined by two German instrumentalists who will work closely with the tour’s predominately youthful ensemble.
“This is also a proper time for Batswana artists to get a European invitation at time when there has been a lot of activities taking place in Southern Africa. We intend to tell the Botswana story through music to more European audiences,” said the veteran jazz artist.
Moruakgomo is one of the most traveled artists in the country, including his notable stint as part of the famous Sarafina ensemble that travelled around the world. He later launched an illustrious solo career which has seen him tour the United States of America, Europe, and Caribbean Islands to name a few.