Celebrating a legacy like no other
With his flamboyant dress sense, melodic voice and captivating live performances, all wrapped up in a smoldering sexuality, there’s no one quite like Shanti-Lo.
Now 43, the enigmatic Kanye-born Jazz legend has spent a large part of his life in the public eye: a quarter-of-a-century to be precise!
25 years have passed since Shanti announced himself on the unsuspecting public with his debut record, ‘Koi’.
To mark the milestone, on Saturday 30 May, BotswanaCraft will host a special one-off show dubbed ‘Shanti Lo: 25th Anniversary Celebration – A Legacy in Music’.
Speaking to Voice Entertainment this week, the trailblazing muso described the event as a tribute to personal evolution, national pride and the unifying magic of music.
“We will take our audience on a musical journey,” he promised, adding attendees will get to experience iconic moments from his career through never-before-seen footage.
“We will perform selections from my entire musical catalogue, from the earliest compositions to my latest works, alongside pieces that have shaped how I create and share music with my fans.
“A big thank you to all my supporters for sticking by me all these years, rooting for me even when I couldn’t see it. This celebration is to show that it was not in vain. I am still here, ready to serve by creating and practicing what I’ve been blessed to do all these years: music,” continued Shanti, who promised to reveal his supporting acts soon.
“As older, more experienced artists, we should take it upon ourselves to accord each other the platform to grow our audiences in the spirit of collaboration.”
Reflecting on a whirlwind career that has taken him around the world, Shanti declares, “This milestone means I’m still alive, still present, still hungry, and still relevant. I am more confident in myself as a person and as a musician, ready to usher in the next 25 years with gratitude and renewed hope.”
Taking Voice Entertainment on a trip down memory lane, Shanti, who credits church, school plays and his parents’ music as key influences in shaping his journey, says, “Getting a recording deal was a big deal back then. I was so excited when my music played on the radio for the first time and seeing my image on the cassette. That’s when I realised this was my true calling; I knew I couldn’t live without singing.”
Despite this burning passion, backed by a unique talent, the road to 25 has not been without its potholes, one of the biggest being the death of his Manager, Soares Katumbela, in a suspected suicide back in May 2017.
“He really put his reputation on the line to ensure I had a career. He was always fighting industry battles for us. I will forever be grateful to him and his family.”
Further hurdles overcome include inconsistent income and managing self-funded projects while supporting a team.
“In hindsight, one of the biggest lessons was learning proper financial planning.”
Performing on stages in Cuba, Sweden, at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz in South Africa, Bushfire in Eswatini, feature high on Shanti’s highlights reel, as does sharing the stage with jazz legends, Joe Sample and Dave Sanborn.
“The highs were incredible, but the journey taught me perseverance and gratitude; that is why I need to celebrate the 25 years of music making!”
Tickets are available at P250 for general admission, with a limited corporate package of P10, 000 for a table of ten.
“Be there or be told,” he teased, his trademark smile just as bright now as it was all those years ago.
