Bokani dyer biography

Bokani Dyer was.
Bokani Dyer moved back to SA as a child in 1990.
Dyer divided his formative years between living with his mother in her native Botswana, and his father, musician Steve Dyer, in South Africa.

•

Bokani Dyer plays to promote social awareness and to create good vibes

»Let me just put on a T-shirt«, says a robust voice in the Zoom call, »then I can switch on my video«. We hear a rustling sound. Three seconds later he appears: Bokani Dyer, pianist, native of Botswana and leader of his own jazz trio in Johannesburg. The 37-year-old musician grins upwards into the mobile phone camera. His face is framed by a beard that has been allowed to grow ever since Dyer arrived in New York about a month ago. It was the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that he had been in this »crazy city«, playing a few gigs, taking a little holiday. Soon he will be heading back to South Africa, his home. Five hours after his arrival, his first album will be released on Brownswood, Gilles Peterson’s label.

»Radio Sechaba«, the title of the record, advocates for the empowerment of individuals, claims Bokani. This can be deduced directly from the title. »Sechaba« is taken from Setswana, the official language of Botswana, and

•

Participations

Record Label associated with Bokani Dyer - past and current.

•

Finding Home, Politicised Art and the Resonance of Truth: An Interview with Bokani Dyer

My interview with South African Jazz pianist, composer, and vocalist, Bokani Dyer is off to an inauspicious start. Both of us are having freak tech issues. The interview ends up being delayed by a couple of hours. Much to my relief, Bokani is serenely gracious about it all. Once order is restored, he joins me to discuss his new album Radio Secheba, released on Brownswood Recordings in May.

Dyer divided his formative years between living with his mother in her native Botswana, and his father, musician Steve Dyer, in South Africa. His very names exemplify this cultural blend. Bokani means to ‘be grateful’ or ‘give thanks’ in a collective setting.

The elder Dyer – who makes a few cameos on Radio Sechaba – played a decisive role in his son’s Jazz education. Nevertheless, Bokani’s epiphany about music came at the age of 14, thanks to the input of other family members.

‘My older cousins in Botswana were instrumental in my decision to take up music serio