4/2020
By Karabo Ntanzi
It took 61 years for the lead guitarist, Moloantoa “Bra Darkie” Tau, to record his music album, titled “Footprints – The Journey”.
The 75 year old, Klerksdorp born Bra Darkie, started playing lead guitar at the age of 12 in 1952 by fiddling with his father’s guitar. Out of five siblings, only Bra Darkie and his younger sister liked the guitar; however, his sister lost interest. His peers at school and neighbourhood used to tease him because of his love for music.
The talented jazz guitarist, who plays other music genres, is also a talented composer. He composed scores of music pieces but has never had the opportunity to record; instead, other people used his music. “There is a high rate of exploitation in the industry and this harms an artist’s development,” added Bra Darkie.
He left for Johannesburg at a young age. He played for several bands, including Young Lovers, Rick and the Diamonds, Sound of Thunder, The Movers and Babsy Mlangeni.
He relocated to Kimberley in 1992 to escape the then high level of violence in the city of gold.
Life was not easy for the jazz musician when he arrived in Kimberley. He survived on handouts to make ends meet and stayed in the Galeshewe Arena, where the music group “Split band” used to rehearse. He composed the hit “Hulana Street Jive”, which won an award on The Shell Road to Fame Competition in Bloemfontein. The song was inspired by Bra Darkie owing money to many people in Hulana street.
Things took a turn for the better when he met his current manager Tebogo Matsie, a producer from Stimpa Sounds Studio. The two met in 2018 at the Diamonds and Dorings Festival. Matsie spotted the old man’s talent. This resulted in a recording of a ten-track album compilation entititled Sounds From Yesterday to Tomorrow.
Bra Darkie lives in Lerato Park with his partner of over 30 years. He still likes to appear live on stage and is looking forward to the forthcoming Northern Cape Arts Music Awards (NCAMA).
Despite the occasional shortness of breath, he is still in good health and wishes to buy himself a car to enjoy his old age.
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