Shanti-Lo glitters after 25-year music stay

Sharon Mathala | Friday March 6, 2026 12:14

 

Looking back on his career, Shanti-Lo says one of the most impactful moments was in 2011 when he was invited to perform at Stockholm Pride in Stockholm, Sweden. Although the trip was self-financed including the costs of two accompanists the experience proved to be a turning point.

“I performed at Kungsträdgården Park and later did an interview and live performance on Sweden’s largest commercial station, Nyhetsmorgon on TV4. I was told the show had ratings of around nine million viewers both in and outside Sweden,” he recalls. Messages soon followed from Batswana in the diaspora who had been watching the broadcast in real time congratulating him on social media. During the same visit he performed with a predominantly Swedish band that included renowned saxophonist Magnus Lindgren and Botswana’s own music legend John Blackie Selolwane.

The week also saw him perform at Etnografiska Museet, the Hellsten Hotel, and the Ethiopian restaurant Ethiostar, while also delivering a lecture on Botswana music at Kulturama College of Music.

The opportunity opened doors to further international performances for him in Ireland, Germany, Cuba, Eswatini, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria, expanding his artistic reach beyond Botswana.

When asked to summarise his 25-year journey in one word, Shanti-Lo does not hesitate, “God”, he said.

“I often found myself placed in situations where I had to perform at my very best, even when the responsibilities were beyond my scope. I always had to learn quickly and apply myself consciously and fully.” For the artist, the moment he realised music could be more than a passion came the first time he was paid to perform.

He also vividly remembers his first performance as Shanti-Lo at Maitisong Theatre when he was just 17 years old. “I was sampling my own compositions and it was a thrilling experience,” he says. “One of the most special moments was being complimented by the late Gomolemo Motswaledi after my performance.” At that age, he says, the future seemed full of promise. “I saw only a bright future. I mean, what could go wrong?” Like many artists across the world, however, the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be one of the most difficult periods of his career. Beyond the collapse of live performances, the period also strained personal relationships.

“My personal relationships were greatly affected. I couldn’t believe that certain people treated me the way they did,” he shared.



Over the years, Shanti-Lo says he has also learned to deal with criticism by simply ignoring it. “There is something very liberating about knowing that what has been said or written about you is not true and realising that there is nothing to defend,” he says.

On failure Shanti-Lo says he turns failures to being one of his greatest teachers. “It has taught me to be humble above all and to keep looking forward to winning,” he further shared.

Among the achievements he holds closest to his heart is his long-standing work with Ambrose Trust, which advocates for and supports children with autism. He has served as the organisation’s patron for the past 15 years.

Musically, one of his most defining songs has been ‘O ya kae’, which he says became a signature piece in his catalogue. Reflecting on the evolution of the music industry, Shanti-Lo believes one of the most positive changes has been the rise of digital platforms that allow artists to sell their music directly to audiences.

According to Shanti-Lo, today’s artists may have greater access to opportunities, he believes competition has become much tougher and many newcomers expect immediate success. Shanti-Lo however believes one area where earlier generations of artists still stand out is live performance. “Old-school artists definitely perform better live,” he says. Despite his long career, Shanti-Lo says he has never really thought about how younger artists perceive him, although he hopes they see him as a source of inspiration.

“I would hope they look at my journey as inspiration to go even further than I did,” he shared further noting that he continues to mentor young talent and encourages them to make use of programmes and opportunities available to them. Away from the spotlight, Shanti-Lo lives a creative life beyond music. He is also an active fashion designer producing exclusive tailor-made clothing, and describes himself as a homebody who enjoys hosting and cooking. Reflecting on fame, he admits that it has come with its own costs.

“It has sometimes taken away my ability to speak out in situations where I felt taken advantage of, but I now realise that this may also have been a blessing in disguise,” he says.

He is currently working on his memoir, which will offer a deeper look into his life and career. Even after 25 years, retirement is not something he seriously considers. Looking ahead, Shanti-Lo says the next chapter of his journey will include creating new music as well as expanding into literary and film projects and when his story is eventually told decades from now, he hopes it will end on a positive note. “Oh, it will end very positively,” he says.

FACT FILE:

Real name: Tumediso Kagiso Loeto

Age: 43

Fav. Food: Bread

Pet peeve: People who like to talk but don’t listen!

Meanest thing: Too many to mention

Spare time: Cooking, writing, sketching, gardening

Fav. Local artists: A few

Shanti-Lo fact file