Moloko Kgomo

BIOGRAPHYMOLOKO KGOMO - “NKEMELE”Moloko Kgomo spent his early years as a herdboy in Ga-Matlala, a few kilometers from Polokwane in Limpopo. The launch of his debut album, “Nkemele” by Cool Spot Productions is certain to confound many with its ingenuity. Kgomo unleashes untapped idioms and chord work informed by the Ba-Pedi culture, which permeates his rural home of Ga-Matlala.While his parents lived in the urban area of Seshego in Polokwane, he was brought up by his grand parents in rural Ga-Matlala. It was while herding cattle with other youngsters that they made tin guitars to kill time. They have indulged enough in hunting, killing snakes and swimming that they turned to music.At the tender age of 12, he befriended a pupil whose uncle had acoustic guitars, Galaxy amplifiers and self made drum kits. Like a moth drawn to light, Kgomo found himself forsaking his self made guitar, visiting the school friend whose uncle Masike Mokaba, allowed him to tinker with his prized instruments. On his very first few days, he found Uncle Mokaba and friends jamming on mbaqanga idioms. With most of the older boys unable to keep time on the drums, he ventured forward. With his acute sense of rhythm, he played the bass drum keeping time. This happily astounded the older musos who decided that only he would be allowed to play drums.Like a hawk waiting to pounce, Kgomo surprised them with his deft lingering on an acoustic guitar whenever he had the opportunity. While visiting his parents he discovered that their neighbour Dicks Mabutla also played an acoustic guitar. Unlike Mokaba’s guitars which had three or four strings, Mabutla’s guitar had complete six strings that yielded an intoxicating sound. After passing matric in 1994, Kgomo wanted to join the army. When he was not signed up, he took up mechanical engineering at the Shikoane Matlala Technical College in Seshego. But whenever he was free, he found time only to practice on Mabutla’s guitar. Clearly satisfied that his protégé had improved manifold, Mabutla stopped lending him his guitar because he wanted him to buy his own.Kgomo decided to stay away from school for a week to do part time work that paid him R37.00 a day. With R185.00 in his pocket by weekend, he bought his own acoustic guitar. He immersed himself into mastering it, not aware that he had attracted the scrutiny of another muso from the vicinity. When the man asked Kgomo to play a tune for him, he was taken aback. Kgomo played his own jazz composition, which charmed the man known as Molamo who invited him to his place. Although not a professional musician, Molamo had instruments and had put together a band that included a bassist, a vocalist and himself ..boards. Kgomo completed the ensemble as the lead guitarist.Although they rehearsed without performing anywhere, one day in 1997 a total stranger arrived and listened to them. After being captivated by Kgomo’s vamping and neat notes, the stranger asked him if he had ever been to a music school. He informed him that he had attended the Funda Centre. It was the first time that the young unimpressionable Kgomo got to know then that there were music schools. It was then that he did a little research, which revealed to him that musicians such as Zim Nqawana, the late Moses Molelekoa and McCoy Mrubata had actually attended music schools.He dumped his mechanical engineering studies and travelled in 1998 to Johannesburg to study music at Funda Centre in Diepkloof, Soweto. There he learned theory, African instruments such as marimba and djembe, the piano, saxophone and guitar. Whereas he wanted to major in piano, he was asked to do so, on a guitar because there was nobody as good as him in the school band.Under the leadership of Zami Duze, Funda Center attended the 1999 Grahamstown National Youth Jazz Festivals for auditions and workshops. Interacting with other aspirant musicians from universities, technikons and advanced music centres, it dawned on him that he still had a lot to learn, When the band again attended the jazz festival in 2000, he captured the fancy of Darryl Andrews, a guitar lecturer from the University of Cape Town (UCT).Andrews facilitated his acceptance as a student at UCT College of Music in 2000. Kgomo had Grade 5 music certificate from Funda Centre. Whereas his parents paid for his Funda Centre studies, he was lucky to get a government loan and a UCT bursary. He was encouraged to learn that the likes of Selaelo Selota, Jimmy Dludlu and Judith Sephuma had just qualified. Determined to make a success of his studies, he was given a merit award in his first year.After four years of honing his musical tools, he graduated in 2004 and returned to Johannesburg. To sharpen his playing, he frequented Funda Centre (where he is presently a part-time music tutor) for jam sessions. Unfortunately for him, the guitar he had bought from his mentor Andrews was stolen. Once again fate intervened and somebody introduced him to Tom Vuma, the man who discovered Steve Kekana. Lending such an unpolished gem, Vuma did not hesitate to invest in him. He bought him a brand new acoustic guitar and also negotiated a deal for him with Cool Spot Productions.The benefit of events that interrupted his musical journey is the release of “Nkemele” produced by Tom Vuma, an offering pregnant with tit-bits of marabi, bee-bop, story telling, today’s influences and most importantly, folk music which included dinaka (horns). The elements of the different influences, is musically fused into an album that is certain to rock. Kgomo is the new jazz kid on the block. This much will be confirmed after the industry has imbibed of tracks like “Thobela Africa”, “Stokvel”, “Train Smoke”, “Democracy”, “Borakgolo”, “Getting there”, “Ke boela gae”, “Khethile, Khethile” and “Gauteng”.Moloko Kgomo has performed in various gigs including the “SABC 2 Family of the Year” at Zoo Lake, Bassline and the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival. He played alongside Tlale Makhene and Bernice Boikanyo. He also worked with Khaya Mahlangu, Jay Hlongwane, Khaya, Kwela Tebza and the late Moses Khumalo among others. In 2006 Moloko Kgomo played in a musical play called “Guga Mzimba” directed by Xoli Norman. There he performed alongside Tshepo Mngoma and Jesse Mogale.As one savours this classical jazz offering, there will be montages of Moses Molelekoa, Zim Nqawana, Hugh Masekela, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Charlie Christian, George Benson and Wes Montgomery. Kgomo might be a boy from the rural areas but he certainly is in a class of his own.For bookings contact: ROADSHOCK T: 011 726 1594 F: 011 477 7854 E: [email protected] management contact: KEIKELAME ENTERTAINMENT C: 083 750 5764 F: 086 667 5505 E: [email protected]