24 Jan 2023

Gaborone’s lifestyle refined restaurant, Thuntsha in collaboration with Zen Promotions on Sunday January 22  hosted a jazz session in honour  to three jazz giants Hugh Masekela, Oliver Mtukudzi and Jonas Gwangwa.

According to Zen Promotions founder, Zenzele Hirschfield the trio deserved  to be  celebrated given the impact of their music in  Botswana.

She said the event which would be held annually to  appreciate their contribution towards the growth of music in the country. 

Legendary South African Jazz musician and anti-apartheid activist Gwangwa passed away on the same day as Masekela and Zimbabwe’s Mtukudzi all on January 23, but different years. 

Those who attended the show were on cloud nine when the DJ started playing Oliver Mtukidzi’s ‘Neria’.

Neria, a classic track which remains a hit song to jazz lovers,  talks about the struggles of a woman in rural Zimbabwe who lost her husband in  an accident.

Oliver Mtukudzi’s very emotional song is about the strength of women and how they succeed in facing live challenges. 

In the lyrics, Mtukudzi tries to console and encourage the woman. 

The most appealing trait about the song is that everybody had to sing and dance to it, the DJ had to put the song on repeat mode until everyone was satisfied.

In his remarks the former Ambassador to Japan Mr Nkoloi Nkoloi who was also a close friend to Brah Hugh said “you cannot talk about jazz and not talk about the three giants. 

He noted that January 23  remained a coincidence had it not been for the passing of the three legends who shared many things in common.

Nkoloi stressed that the legendary jazz music masters’ songs have united the nations world-wide ‘neria’ was a hit world-wide and it changed the lives of many women. 

“We grew up listening to their song which made an impact in our lives and in the entertainment industry.  Ends