03 May 2021

Onkarabile Maswabi, who prefers to be called Onx-Sasha in showbiz circles has released a slow jam jazz album titled, Maphephe to narrate the sad story of her early childhood.

The 27-year-old Gabane-born musician, unlike many of her peers in Gabane, did not have a cheerful and joyous upbringing.

She had to endure the painful strain of poverty and dejected childhood of growing up without a father figure in their homestead.

The tough economic strain seemed like a natural progression. She also had to raise her only child without a father figure and struggled to feed her.

“I remember days when there was literally no food on the table. I watched painfully as my mother struggled to make ends meet,” she recalled.

Nevertheless, she chased her dream and soon released a debut album that highlights the struggles she faced in real life.

Maswabi had always loved music and singing.

The ball started rolling at primary school when she enrolled with the school choir.  She was to be part of that set up until senior school.

Realising her talent Maswabi was instantly picked by several gospel artistes to provide the necessary backing vocals in most of their albums.

She also tried her luck in theatre. “I performed for Mekgweba Theatre group in Gabane and the group was so into music than stage acting.

That developed my talent,” she added.

The six-track album is indeed a marvel to listen to in the era where jazz music is the in thing.

Track four, Ntate o setlhogo re-counts the sad part of her father running away from his responsibilities as the breadwinner.

Track one Mmamathi is an old folklore song that has been developed into several genres over the years.

Lasaro is a slow jam inspired by the miraculous story of the biblical Lazarus. Other tracks likely to enjoy airplay are the title track Maphephe and Basadi Bomme. ENDS