Album divides gospel group
FOR the first time in 20 years, Masole a Tumelo, a Pretoria-based gospel group, has recorded an album without its all-time leading vocalist Matlakala Ramathoka.
NO COMMENT: Masole a Tumelo lead vocalist Matlakala Ramathoka
PHOTO: Munyaradzi Chamalimba
And the move to have a new leading vocalist for the album is said to have angered Ramathoka so much that she abandoned the choir that she co-founded with her husband Johannes.
"She was angered by the management's move to give other members of the group a chance to shine," an insider told Sowetan yesterday.
"When she was first told that a new person was needed to replace her 'as our leading vocalist', Ramathoka said she did not have a problem with the idea but since then she has never been part of the group," the source said.
"She now refuses to come to practice sessions or performances, something she has never done before."
Many fans of this award-winning group comprising 15 members of the St Engenas Zion Christian Church were shocked last month when the group's latest album, Ditebogo go Balatedi, did not feature their favourite leading vocalist.
On the CD cover, Ramathoka's message states she was not part of the group's new album because the choir wanted to expose the talents of other members, a move she said she supported.
But members of the choir insist that Ramathoka was not happy with the move. They said she, however, had no choice because the management's word was final.
"The fact that her face does not even feature on the CD cover with other members of the choir bears testimony to the fact that she is unhappy.
"She regarded the group as her baby and did not see this move coming ... I mean she has led this group for more than 20 years," our source said.
The source said no one has been nominated yet to replace Ramathoka, but Esther Monareng, one of the long serving members of the group, is seemingly eyed to replace her.
Both Ramathoka and the group's director, Nicholas Makakase, declined to comment on the matter yesterday.
Masole a Tumelo, which started recording in 1992, has 20 albums to its name. The group's hits include Emisang Ho Lwana Ditekising, Bosiu ba Mahlomola and Dikgamathetse Madi.
bakstena
O bolele mpsa fela wena san. Ge e le gore ko wena le loya fela, o hlokomele u will find yourself in the soup one day. You are one of those people causing havoc and controversy within our societies.Report Abuse
sekhebereshe
@bakstenawhy getting all emotional,are u related to matlakala or ur part of the choir!........
Report Abuse
DjEp
Pse, mama i appreciate your voice and music, but dont make the same mistake Mme Priscilla and Priscilla made, of not grooming someone else as if they were immortal. Today the choir is no more becuase everyone is figthing for the MIC.Report Abuse
Raven
now you are talking mpsa ka nnete Sowetan...bare bare bare bo mang?mxm.f***ck offReport Abuse
bakstena
Wena bothat bja gago ke eng, why talking on his behalf. Kgane le a shebelana. Le nna ke availableReport Abuse
