It’s been close to a decade since Selaelo Selota burst into South Africa’s music scene with “Painted Faces” which earned him two SAMA Awards in 2001 for Best Newcomer and Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Since then he released three truly remarkable albums, “Enchanted Gardens”, “Stories Live and Told” and “The Azanian Songbook”, and now he’s back with a fifth album entitled “Lapeng Laka” – my home – which is due for release on 6 April.
Like his previous albums “Lapeng Laka” is deeply connected to Selota’s roots in South Africa’s Limpopo province. This 14-track album is mostly written in Pedi and is full of melodic tales from rural Limpopo. The role animals play in allegorical rural tales appear frequently in Selota’s current work. “The stories are in many cases deeply traditional in spirit and I wanted to give listeners who aren’t from Limpopo a chance to visualize the tales that are being told, adding to the richness of the experience,” explains Selota.
The multi-award winning artist is proud of where his journey has taken him since the release of his debut “Painted Faces” in 2001. “I’ve learnt a huge amount but the one thing that has been consistent throughout everything is the unique viewpoint my musical heritage gives me and on this album I’ve really tried to bring that out,” he says.
The guitar maestro has collaborated with outstanding musicians as Malatji (keyboards and backing vocals), Samuel Ogeneoghagha Ibeh (drums) and Amaeshi Ikechi (bass) on this album.
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