Mmaphala

BIO

‘Setswana SoulJazz’ is how Mmaphala describes her music. Carefully crafted with traditional Setswana elements and instruments, placing it within the genres of World Music and Jazz yet, still very niche in its delivery. When listening to each ballad, one is taken on a journey that is reminiscent of love experienced in all forms, from the love of a father, a lover and for a native country.

Her name, Mmaphala, lovingly coined by her father, a saxophonist and trumpeter at the time of her birth. The English translation is awkward and doesn’t capture the meaning. However phala in Setswana, means a wind instrument or any instrument that you blow into that creates a sound and Mma can mean mother of in Setswana and therefore, mother of these beautiful sounds, which truly embodies the Sphere, the title of her debut album. In her own words Sphere means,

“That inner place, inner space, inner voice, that inner guide where we find the answers to the questions that we need or at least where we find the guidance towards the answers; I feel that’s where God talks to us; it’s an inner space that is magical, mystical and spiritual. It’s a calm inner space that informs the bigger decisions of our lives.”

Mmaphala takes people on a musical, lyrical and vocal journey that evokes and conjures up emotions

Music Lover
She’s a singer songwriter with basic piano playing skills who has invested into XLT Studios, which recorded her album. Sphere is the culmination of a self introspective, musical exploration, which started in earnest as a back-up singer for Momo and other local artists and as a lead singer for Unity Band, which played at numerous events.

As part of the Streethorn Jazz team, she assisted in the:

• Re Batswana Musical
• FNB All That’s Jazz David Sanborn/Joe Sample Show at GICC
• Be Mobile Jonas Gwangwa show held at the Majestic in Palapye

She has played as a DJ at Jazz and Old School on air and at events

As an on air radio personality on Gabzfm many years ago, she introduced ‘Distant Drums’ to expose listeners to soul music from Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, such as Zouk. Afro Soul, Salsa, Kompa, Kisumba and Calypso.

Marketing Management
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and was employed at BTC for over ten years where the last role she held was acting Head of Product Management charged with developing and implementing growth and retention strategies for the product portfolio.

Actress
This began as Jill Scott's double in the film - No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (2007) which subsequently lead to the 'Older Maid' role in the TV series the following year (2008). In Morwalela (2010), a local soapie (docu-drama), she played Mma Kenosi, the councillor's wife

(All photos taken by Kgosi Goodwill)