AN AFFAIR WITH MUSIC: DJ Lexy J engages Leburu-Sianga

LEBURU-SIANGA: My name is Felicity Leburu-Sianga, a pensioner working for Macmillan Botswana Publishing Company as Chief Executive Officer. My birth place is Serowe in the Central District. I am passionate about the arts and I am involvement with the Botswana Society for the Arts. 

DJ LEXY J: I’d like to know your relationship with music, when did the love begin? How far back can you remember?

LEBURU-SIANGA: As a little girl growing up in the late 50s in Francistown I was staying with my aunt who was a very good singer and that used to fascinate me especially when she sang in church.  I thought I could grow to be like her but I soon came to realise it was not that easy.  I moved to stay with my father and was surrounded by the sounds of Jim Reeves and I loved that so much that when I moved to secondary school I then developed a song book that puts words to the melodies I heard.  To me the melodies and the lyrics are very important in music. When I started working in the mid-70s I started collecting various genres of music and always listened to when I was not at work. The weekends were fun days when we partied. The type of music I collected was Jazz, Gospel, Reggae, etc. I have a collection of the Isaac Hayes, Millie Jackson, Barry White, Harry Belafonte, Brook Benton, Tavares, Houston Person, Eric Gale, Letta Mbule, Tsepo Tshola, etc.

DJ LEXY J: What kind of music do you love and how often do you indulge yourself?

LEBURU-SIANGA: I still love Jazz and gospel and our local music. I find myself playing gospel music every day when I drive to work and home. It soothes my spirit. Music sparks my creative mood because whenever I have to write down any piece of work while music is playing in the background my thinking speed is enhanced and I end up producing quality work.

DJ LEXY J: How has music influenced your life over the years?

LEBURU-SIANGA: Music has shaped my thinking, keeps me rejuvenated and enhances my creativity; when my spirits are low I am lifted by music. I use music as vehicle to go down memory lane. Each piece resonates with a different time or stage of my life. Every time I listen to music, happiness and joy bring out that smile on my face. When I am alone I play music and it brings flash backs to me. 

DJ LEXY J: Does the music you listen to now differ from what you listened to growing up?

LEBURU-SIANGA: A younger me danced a lot and the music had to be full of movement. Today it’s more soft music that touches the feelings.

DJ LEXY J: Can you think of any particular music/song that you associate a memory, mood, or place with?

LEBURU-SIANGA: Enjoy by Huston Person is a song I associate with one of my special friends now departed may his soul rest in peace.

DJ LEXY J: What is your all-time favourite song(s)?

LEBURU-SIANGA: Isaac Hayes – I stand accused; Brenda Fassie – The Lord is my shepherd; and Houston Person – Enjoy. 

DJ LEXY J: Who is your all-time favourite Artist, and why?

LEBURU-SIANGA: Vuyo Mokoena. I like his lyrics and his voice is special whether you know the language or not you flow with the rhythm.  His songs bring him to life.

DJ LEXY J: What’s on your playlist and how do you choose the music that goes onto it?

LEBURU-SIANGA: I am currently playing Vuyo Mokoena – the Psalmist and the Essential. I choose an artist and play their album and this leads me to appreciate the rest of the songs in the album.

DJ LEXY J: So long, have yourself a super duper day! 

LEBURU-SIANGA: Thank you, same to you.