Folklore guitarist 'Kotaeshele' passes on
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday August 14, 2020 12:42
He succumbed to death on Sunday at Deborah Relief Hospital in Mochudi where he was admitted. According to his brother, Odirile Molefe, the folklore music pioneer had been sick for some time.
Kotaoetshele started playing music with string bass at his cattle post before using a traditional four strings guitar made with a fish oil tin can, a long thick piece of wood and wire strings. For a performer who made a living out of playing the four strings guitar, Kotaoetshele over the years saved money every now and then until he accumulated enough to buy a sophisticated guitar.
“His guitar was popularly known as ‘serope sa pitse’. He was a self-taught guitarist.
He worked with some of the famous legends such as Johnnie Kobedi whom they recorded a song together, Sebongile Kgaila, Sam Raditsebe and many more,” Odirile said.
Kotaeshele’s music was played in RB1 Programme Dipina le Maboko.
The artist whose talented fingers used to tickle the four strings once performed for the second president of Botswana the late Sir Ketumile Masire during a kgotla meeting at Oodi.
Kotaeshele played during Agricultural Shows and once won position one. He used to serenade people at social events and many other places with his melodic sounds.
Kotaoetshele was an unsung hero who together with legends of the game like Solly Sebotso of Pidipidi fame, Stika Sola, Sebongile Kgaila, the late Malefho Stampore Mokha, the late Adries Bok, Dikgang Malete, Molefe Western Lekgetho, Aupa Tlou, and George Swabi amongst others, have immortalised the folklore guitar. Dates of Kotaoetshele’s burial are yet confirmed.