Zebediela pays homage to Steve Kekana
Music icon says he never rests on his laurels despite his achievements
When Dr Steve Kekana’s first song, Mamsy, hit the airwaves in 1978, teenagers from his village in Zebediela, Limpopo, ran out of their school to jive to it in a neighbouring shebeen.
Legend has it that the usually strict teachers turned the other cheek and let the children off the hook to soak in the musical euphoria in the fiery Limpopo sun.
“The first time this song was on radio I was told that all the students from Madibo Secondary School [at Sekgophokgophong village] walked out of class to dance to that song. It was chaos,” he says.
Kekana, who has released more than 40 albums over the span of 40 years, is the epitome of courage. He is the pride of Zebediela, a settlement famous for its delicious oranges and, of course, the legendary music icon, Kekana.
“When I heard my song played for the first time on Radio Zulu (now Ukhozi FM) hosted by Winnie Mahlangu I was on cloud nine,” he says.
Kekana, 62, has won countless awards, including a lifetime achievement award from the South African Music Awards and more than 70 golden disc awards in his incredible career.
“In 1984 I was named one of four outstanding young South Africans and I was also named one of 10 most outstanding people in the world in 1985 [by Junior Chamber International].”
His hit songs such as Take Your Love and Keep It, featuring Nana Coyote, and Raising My Family resonated with people all around the world.
Despite all the recognition, an award recently given to him by the people of Zebediela and non-profit organisation Zebediela Memories and Dreams for putting his home on the map, is one of the most precious moments of his life.
“I grew up in a family that read the Bible and it taught us that a prophet is never recognised in their home. But for me to be recognised by my own people has boosted me so much and made me to feel worthy,” he says.
Kekana says it has been a long journey to reach his icon status. After losing most of his sight when he was only five years old he battled to make friends.
“My village knew me for many things, both good and bad. As a blind child people would not want to be next to me or play with me so I would confront them. I would actually beat other children who did not want to play with me, so after that they knew I would punish anyone who discriminated against me,” he says.
“After realising that this yielded some results I started to impress people with my string bass that I made out of a Joko tea cardbox.”
This was the beginning of his music journey and had many people dazzled by his vocal chords and his skills on his self-made guitar.
“Older people would throw some coins at me and the kids who did not want to be friends with me realised that now I have money to buy them bread and atchaar,” he says.
Some of his best memories include performing in England in 1982, where he met the Rolling Stones and played football.
“When I was in England I had a tour with Hotline (SA music group) and it was a very good show. I played in a show with the Rolling Stones and [sang with] Mick Jagger. It was a great adventure.”
Although he has never felt discriminated against in his adulthood for being blind, he has faced many trials. When he enrolled to study law in the early 90s there were no Braille books for law in his university.
“When I was still in school I had a ‘big brother’ called Joe Malatji, who was studying law in Turfloop (University of the North). If you know anything about me you must know that I like to imitate or follow in the footsteps of other blind people. Joe and people like Babsy Mlangeni, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles have inspired me in both law and music.
“When I enrolled in university I had to rely on a friend to read the textbooks to me so I could transcribe them into braille.”
Luckily by his second year in 1995, the University of Limpopo got a special computer that was able to translate textbooks into Braille for him. After his graduation he practised law for a number of years until becoming a lecturer at Unisa.
“I am an adventurous person. I got my job as a lecturer after I was invited by Unisa to give a motivational speech. I was told that there is a vacancy and I applied.”
Kekana ended up lecturing law at Unisa for two years from 2011 to 2013, which he said he enjoyed.
His success in both the music and legal professions has led to him being a good mentor for children with disabilities.
“I think a lot of blind children think that they need to be musicians and it’s important to make sure they know they can be anything they want to be. Not all blind people are gifted musically.”
The father”of two, who is celebrating 33 years of marriage this year, says although he is getting older and his eyesight is getting worse, with age he is proud of his many achievements, such as writing a book and gaining an honorary doctorate in philosophy.
“I don’t rest because I don’t want to rust, Kekana says.
‘‘ In varsity I relied on a friend to read the textbooks