Lekarapa realises dream
Engineer uses music to tout for mining
Despite his successful career as a mine engineer, Lesedi Lekarapa could not shake off his showbiz itch.
Now 30, Lekarapa – whose stage name “Mine Boy” means miner or migrant worker – has finally launched his music career with a single titled Safety Project. His music is in the house genre, which is generally dominated by DJs
The Westonaria-born, West Rand, Lekarapa says house music expresses his life experiences better than other genres.
“I use music to educate people about the mining industry. I am introducing the public to the language we use in the mines – Fanakalo. Black and white people use this language in the mines,” he explains.
“The reason I sing about my experience in the mine is because people think that people who work in the mines are uneducated. There are a lot of professional careers in the mines. Through my music I am actually trying to attract young people to this sector.”
Lekarapa, who is putting final touches to his album which will be dropped early next year, has worked with awardwinning music stars such as DJ Tira and Infinite Boys.
The Safety Project single was released last month and it’s currently enjoying airplay on SABC radio stations. He says he spent a lot of money trying to get all the experienced people to be part of his project.
“Two of the songs in the album were recorded in Durban and are produced by Tira.”
Lekarapa says he grew up on kwaito and still loves the music of Mzambiya, Kabelo Mabalane and Msawawa.
He still works in the mines, currently doing a project for a coal mine in Rustenburg, North West.
The musician studied mine engineering at University of Johannesburg and graduated in 2010. He wants to establish a foundation.
“I want to encourage youth to develop an interest in mining and to further promote safety in the mines and communities around us.”
When he’s not underground, the house vocalist performs at clubs and mine events.