Drawing from African roots
Otlarongwa Kgweetsi | Monday June 16, 2025 14:14
“I discovered my love for art at a very young age. I was always drawing on notebooks, dressing dolls, and creating things with my hands. With time, I realised art wasn’t just something I did, it was part of who I am,” she says. Kejelepula is the founder of Kaliwinski Arts, a registered creative brand that hosts exhibitions and community events. Her goal is to build a space where artists, art lovers, and the public can connect and express themselves through various art forms. However, her true focus remains on creating deeply personal work that often mirrors social issues and emotional truths. “My style is surreal and expressive,” she explains. “I mix African traditional influences with futuristic, dreamlike elements. Symbolism plays a big role in how I explore ideas around identity, memory, and culture,” she says. She draws much of her inspiration from every day experiences in Botswana’s landscapes, textures, stories, and people. “There’s so much inspiration around me,” she says.
“Our culture, our stories, our resilience. I try to reflect all of that in my work,” she explains. A standout piece for her depicts a woman and her son coming from a family affected by gender based violence (GBV). “We have a serious issue with GBV in Botswana,” she says. “This piece, done in a realism style, is my way of raising awareness and starting conversations through art,” she asserts. She works mostly with coloured pencils, graphite, and oil pastel mediums that allow her to blend layers and express emotion through texture. “I love how flexible these materials are. They give me the freedom to control detail and tone,” she says. On the digital side, she also uses software like Adobe Illustrator for design projects. For Kejelepula, the process of making art is as important as the final product. “Some pieces take days, others take weeks. It depends on how I feel. I don’t force the process, I let the work guide me,” she says. Her distinction between fine art and design is clear. “Fine art is emotional and personal. It’s where I express myself without limits. Design is more structured, often focused on solving a client’s need. Both are creative, just in different ways,” she points out. The path has not been without challenges. “Access to resources, self-doubt, and being misunderstood have been some of the biggest struggles,” she admits. “But I’ve learned to keep going. Every challenge has taught me something valuable,” she says. Still, she has had moments of pride, especially when showing her work publicly. “The first time I showcased my work in an exhibition, people connected with it. They asked questions, shared their thoughts, and it reminded me why I do this,” says Kejelepula.
She hopes her art helps others reflect and feel seen. “I want people to connect emotionally with my work. I want them to think about who we are as Africans, and sometimes, just pause and breathe with the piece,” she adds. Currently, she is working on a visual series that reimagines African monuments from the perspective of young women. It blends storytelling, fashion, and digital art fields she is passionate about. Looking ahead, she dreams of opening a creative space for young artists in Botswana. “A place where we can collaborate, learn, and grow,” she says. “We need more spaces like that,” she alludes. Her advice to aspiring artists is simple but firm: “Believe in your voice. Your uniqueness is your power. Stay curious and keep creating, even when it’s hard,” she advises. In a world still learning to fully value young African artists, Kejelepula’s work offers a compelling reminder of the power of authentic, culturally-rooted expression.