Music industry mourns Soares Katumbela
Renowned jazz promoter and deejay, Soares Katumbela (DJ SK) made his spiritual transition under heart wrenching circumstances on Thursday. Katumbela’S corpse was reportedly found in his burnt to ashes car in Tlokweng. Police investigations are still ongoing and it has not been confirmed whether it was a suicide as widely speculated, or perhaps foul play.
Katumbela was the soothing voice that brought music lovers jazz tunes every Sunday on Duma FM. He was also a sought after promoter, events organiser and the owner of the popular Street Horn music shop in Molapo Crossing, Gaborone.
Katumbela, born October 12, 1961, had an undeniable passion for jazz. He also had an unquenchable desire to see local jazz artists recognised and celebrated across the world. He was one of the founding members of the now defunct Orapa Jazz Club in the 80s. He later formed the Francistown Jazz club and subsequently co-established the New Yorker jazz club that attracted jazz lovers and musical icons from across the country and beyond borders.
He went on to form Street Horn Promotions, through which he has been credited with many milestones. Katumbela is credited as being instrumental in the success of several local jazz artists including Shanti Lo and Nnunu Ramogotsi among others. He has also brought many jazz artists to Botswana such as Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwanga, David Sanborne and Joe Sample, among other artists. He also did his share of charity through Street Horn and some of the beneficiaries include Rentse Foundation that received clothes and blankets. Katumbela has been described as a warm man with a heart of gold.
Katumbela was the organiser of the Francistown Jazz Festival, which was to take place on Saturday but was cancelled. The show was postponed a few months earlier due to lack of sponsorship. The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Culture and Sports Development, which was one of the main sponsors reportedly withdrew its sponsorship last week following a rushed new regulation that stipulates that no music events be held at stadia. The Ministry has since retracted this stipulation. Katumbela was also due to receive a Presidential Award from President Ian Khama later this month to coincide with Independence Day celebrations. Some saddened artists took to social media to express their condolences and a few of the messages read:
*Folkore artist Tomeletso Sereetsi of Sereetsi and the Natives fame
--Rest in peace bro. Soares Katumbela. You have opened doors for many of us. God bless your soul.
*Performance poet Mmakgosi Anita
--Rest in Peace Uncle Soares Katumbela. Your life is a monument of Jazz resting on depth. You started a revolution that knows no end.
*Jazz singer Kearoma Rantao
--May his soul rest in peace… In memory of Soares Katumbela
*Reverred songstress Maxy Golden Queen
--Rest in peace abuti waaka Mr Soares Katumbela. You were a good promoter. I did so many good jobs with you back in the day. You have really built the local music industry and always believed in local artists. I salute you and your work. You raised me musically… Only God knows why…May God be with you motsadi wa me.
*Goabaone Bantsi better known as Zeus
--The “I don’t wanna have to go to funerals” line in Drake’s More Life album gave me chills after Steez passed on this year. It is devastating that not too long after this tragedy, we lose another giant of a leader in the music business, brother/father/uncle to us all Soares Katumbela. Once more we shed tears, attend prayers and seek comfort. My thoughts are with his family. I cannot imagine the pain they are in right now. I wish “more life” was an easy option to access for us as video game characters, but I realise the only way to have more life is through the lives you touch who carry your spirit and values.
Rest in Peace bra Soares, you will be missed by many!