03 Mar 2019

Kwasa kwasa fans are never going to reconnect with guitar maestro, Nathaniel Mwamboma, popularly known as Nata Capricorn in the local showbiz.

The reason is very simple; he has sold his guitar and now carries a Bible in his bag.

One of the pioneers of the much loved kwasa kwasa sounds, Nata Capricorn has etched himself an eternal place in the arms of the Lord.After riding the hard patch of life Mwamboma is determined that his calling to serve God get stronger every day. The last time he made a stopover at the Mass Media complex was about 12 years ago when he passed by to promote one of his chart dropping albums.

Now, Mwamboma carries a black Bible, written in his native Kiswahili language.

Considered to be one of the finest songwriters and great guitarist locally, Mwamboma first landed in Botswana from Tanzania in 1988 in pursuit of employment in the music industry.

Upon arrival in Botswana, he met the late Lawi Somana, renowned lead guitarist Alfred Mosimanegape and the charismatic dancer, Charity Ntebang.

The meeting was not only to inspire just a musical relationship between the three but in later years produced chart breaking albums that became instant household hits in Mogoditshane and even beyond.

Mogoditshane became the melting pot of the rhumba genre thanks to the likes of Nata Capricorn and his ilk. His guitar sounds became the staple diet for many music lovers across the country. Unfortunately, two years later Somana, the founder of the band, which was performing on a regular basis at the then Gaborone Sun passed on.

As if that was not enough Mwamboma was forced to dash back home where his family lived. Having seen the energy that Mwamboma displayed Mosimanegape followed Mwamboma and asked him to restart the band.

He accepted the request and soon they signed a contract with the popular night joint Bodiba country club in Mogoditshane. Things turned sour and Mwamboma once again went back home. The launching pad of the brand Nata Capricorn came in 1996 when Mwamboma came back to Botswana in full force.

He brought into the band some of the finest musicians in the late countryman Yohana Mwanasande better known as Shabani, Abdallah Dogodogo, the late Moses Lungu and Evans, who later regrouped to form the defunct Sakaye Kings dance band.

Little known vocalist Frank Lesokwane came through and formed a formidable partnership doing great gimmicks and backing vocals. Nata Capricorn did well.

Dropping hit after hit and three years later produced the timeless album, Bula Matlho, which included the smash hit song Maya.

Lesokwane left the band and joined Mosimanegape’s Les Africa Sounds. Mwamboma kept recording but the preceding albums bared little success.

The music industry especially the rhumba genre fell on a hard rock. When he went back to his native Tanzania Mwamboma became spiritual.

“I am done with rhumba. I have established a relationship with God. It has reached many people. There is no particular church I go to but I believe in Christ. I have joined the Christ church,” quipped Mwamboma. Mwamboma admits that he had not touched a guitar since he first opened his beloved biblia.

He sold his once famous six string guitar when the odds were struck against him and seeks a new lease in life. In what he termed the second phase of his life, Mwamboma planned to establish his new spiritual home in Botswana until God decides to call him. Some of his past popular albums include Dumelang, Bula Matlho, Angela, Boela Gae, Molato Ke eng,Bye Botswana and Maun amongst others. ENDS