It takes a certain kind of special artist to be able to create alone, and also work with others toward a singular goal. Jazz has been proven to be one of the greatest genres to test and teach this. When the formula is done just right, each contributing voice shines in its own right, while also celebrating the others around it. Gaborone-based musical outfit, The Grow To Black Collective, is set to deliver a series of live showcases to demonstrate this musical diplomacy to audiences over the course of the month of October.
The season of song kicks off quite fittingly with a selection of performances as part of the 2025 Maitisong Festival programme. The Collective will be presenting two shows that explore their history as collaborators, as well as exposing their genre-bending stylings. The 10th of October brings the return of The Nexus Suite – a symphonic jazz recital. The suite is a body of work, connected by a thread of composition and imagery. At its core, The Nexus is the point at which the music begins to draw out its lineage. “We will play and tell the story of how this suite took shape from early 2021, which we then recorded and released as a first volume in April 2024,” states the band’s founding Sound Engineer, Maleho Makgothi.
The second showcase takes a departure from this reflective mood and turns towards insinuating novel ideas into the expansive landscape of jazz expression. On October 12th, The Collective premieres the Black-Fi show. “Black-Fi is a collection of lo-fi, Dilla-styled hip hop and cool jazzy tunes,” explains Makgothi. In an environment where the difficulties of making a living off one’s craft can stunt the desire to create new work regularly, The Collective stands out as an example of dedication and resilience. Having started with their Sunset Tour this time last year, this performance is a showing of grooves that the band has been serving at their self-organised Wednesday Night jazz shows in the interim. In true commitment to not only making art, but also having it live beyond the moments of its birth, the Black-Fi project is to join the catalogue of The Collective’s recordings alongside their August Smoke Break Sessions collaboration with Bullsheep Creative Studios, with releases of both penned for late 2025.
One of The Collective’s strengths is the duality of youth and a wealth of experience embodied by its members. Founded by multi-instrumentalist composer Laone Thekiso, who plays lead on the piano for the project, Dylan Lebekwe offers rhythms on the drums, Menziwa Macala carries the groove on the bass, while Njaveva Bingana and Leatile Serojane bring the brass on the trumpet and tenor saxophone respectively, to create a recipe unlike any other in the country. They are always in pursuit of understanding the potentialities of musical creation, and doing so fearlessly on their own terms.
Following up on the publication of last year’s first instalment, The Nexus Suite Vol. 2 will be officially launched in a combined performance and release event on 19 October. The Collective seeks to take audiences on a scenic and sonic adventure, and will abandon the cityscape to stage the family-friendly day out at The Kettle Post in Sentlhane. Nestled in the beauty of the Gardens of Matuti Crafts, attendees can expect to have their taste buds teased, thirsts quenched, and spirits lifted through the medium of song. Not only is this an invitation to mark another milestone in the band’s creative journey, but it is also an opportunity to support their financial growth through purchasing this new product.
Even if solely based on the work being put in by The Grow To Black Collective, it is fair to say that exciting times lie ahead for local music-based eventing. Quite often, there is a reliance on attracting audiences by having a stacked performer menu, but The Collective dares consumers to be at ease with taking in artists in their singularity, such that they may build new connections and rekindle those already formed. As such, this season of song brings with it introductions and continuations in testament to the continuous efforts of a group of talented individuals who come together to make magic through music.
