adminAll Arthur Mafokate wished for last Saturday night was for his mother to see him perform. It would have been only the third time that his mother Grace would have seen him in action, but she was felled by illness and went for an operation. “My mom only watched me perform twice in my whole career. First it was per invite in 1996 and the second was because she was one of the street vendors at that event. And this could have been the third time but she had an operation. I am happy now that she is back from ICU.
“She’s been in hospital for a long time and the pain has been unbearable. She doesn’t eat and is frail. You give up but then say God knows best,” Mafokate said without revealing the nature of the illness.
Mafokate staged the celebration for his long-standing music label 999Music at Pretoria’s State Theatre in front of a capacity audience that didn’t mind starting two hours late.
It was a nostalgic trip as Mafokate proved his timeless appeal performing his career-making hits such as Kaffir, Twalatsa and Sika Lekhekhe.
It was also a night to put on a united front from the stable as Chomee of Jiva Sexy fame joined Mafokate on stage. Chomee, the crowd pleaser, was met with chants of “We want more” after she performed. Chomee had been rumoured to be out in the cold at the stable as new girl Cici made her presence felt.
Cici, in skimpy bum shorts, held her own as she dished out her newest tracks such as Runaway.
The new crop of musicians at 999Music also got to shine, like Kelly Khumalo who sang her popular tracks Uthando Lwami and Asine as well as My Testimony. She later performed Nguye Lo with Mafokate.
The evergreen Ishmael sang his golden hits Roba Letheka and Waar Was Jy. Also in the line-up was Lungelo who sang his new song Cela.
A new Sotho rapper called Teekay also impressed as did the energetic blue-haired Mzeezolyt.-—sowetan
Online Reporter