Phillip Kakaza Rock
In black jeans and fuzzy T-shirts, four- piece band Metal Orizon could easily be mistaken for an Afro-pop band. Yet even before you see them perform, the name Metal Orizon gives you a clue as to what these funky Tswana dudes are up to. Unusually for black people, they are into heavy metal music, though the produce a sound that is closer to melodic rock than heavy metal proper.
They speak deep Tswana and perform a transmigrated version of post-Beatles-style rock’n’roll. They are self-taught instrumentalists who play with passion and excellence.
The group consists of Spencer (lead/vocals), Santos (bass guitar), Jackie (drums) and Sentah (guest vocalist).
Metal Orizon is apparently the only metal/rock band in Botswana. In view of their rural Tswana background, it is quite bizzare they are so heavily mostly influenced by European and American heavy metal bands like Pantera, Napalm, Metallica and Slayer.
Metal Orizon may sound like a strange name, but it holds a special meaning for the troupe, says Sentah. “`Orizon’ is an old English word meaning prayer, and our music is metal and rock. Heavy metal is part of our lives -and a prayer that provides time for meditation as well as entertainment for the audience.”
Judging by the few gigs they’ve performed in South Africa with other heavy metal or hardcore bands, it is evident that they don’t have a following among black youth.
It is even worse in their hometown of Gaborone. “Youth are into hip-hop and kwaito music and we have few fans among middle-aged people. Even then, they are those who are more into rock,” says Sentah. This could be one reason that they have begun to combine their hardcore metal with Afro-rock rhythms.
At a recent appearance at the Pump House in Pretoria, Metal Orizon did a number called Mangwane o Tsamaile, a Tswana traditional song, in rocky style. With this song they strutted their stuff most effectively, and the predominantly white audience danced up a storm as Spencer’s lead guitar wailed upwards into the high notes.
The group was formed in 1991, out of a a common love of heavy metal and hard rock. Santah says though they also listened to other musical genres, they related most to metal and rock’s appealingly pumping rhythm. “It goes with the pulse, and that is why we mostly shake our heads in appreciation. Black youth find it hard to understand why we play metal or rock music – they think we are into drugs. It is about time theyunderstand that music is not about race but about what you can do best as a musician.”
The band is currently recording a 12-track album.