By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
Heartfelt condolence messages continue to pour in after the death of African Jazz legend, Paula Motswaiwa-Naane. North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, Virginia Tlhapi said Motswaiwa-Naane was humorous and loved across the community of Mahikeng including Bokone, Tlhabologo, and Lerwaneng villages.
Tlhapi said the late Mama Paula as Motswaiwa-Naane was affectionately known in the entertainment fraternity was one of the enthusiastic artists in the pot of the arts. She added that Mama Paula also never forgotten their Kofifi language which many young stars did not understand.
“Mama Paula aged gracefully and lived her life with a purpose. We will miss her dearly and we will always cherish her performances. We are talking about the mother of the artists in the province who nurtured and polished some rough diamonds in the arts industry.
“Mama Paula had a rhyming character and she was comfortable when on the stage. She was the fuel of singing and the oiled-machine of singing. One could say Mama Paula was born for that as she would just jump on to the stage, grab the mic, and serenaded the audience with her rhythmic, golden voice leaving them mesmerised by her unbelievable energy,” she said.
Tlhapi further said Mama Paula, with her bragging character ‘SelogatlatlanakaSontaga’ was one of the creamy classical singers in the province. A 76-year-old singer was born in Manzenville near Krugersdorp and started her in Johannesburg around the 70s at Dorkey House.
“Mama Paula distinguished herself in the late fifties as one of the vocalists in the Elite Swingsters, which featured the likes of the late Mama Miriam Makeba, Dolly Rathebe, Abigail Khubekha, Dorothy Masuku just to name a few.
“She represented the North West province and South Africa at large in the neighbouring countries such as Botswana. Mama Paula also performed Freedom Melody in Gaborone on the 1980s, featuring Botswana Pioneers, Thandi Klaasen, Sharptown Swingsters to name but a few.
“The legendary shared the staged with Mzwakhe Mbuli performing Unbroken Spirit that was released in 1989 with songs like The Last Struggle, Don’t Push Us Too Far, Nobel Peace, and many more.
“On the 31st of October 2015, Mama Paula participated and provided a classical performance during the Breast Cancer Awareness Concert at Mmabatho Stadium in Mahikeng,” said Tlhapi.
She added that her department in partnership with the South African Traditional Music Awards (SATMA) recognised Mama Paula with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her talent and contribution in the arts industry.
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