Sebotsa the traditional guitar maestro

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Staff Writer | Friday August 10, 2012 00:00

 

For him life would be simply incomplete without it. This 33-year-old Letlhakeng man beams with happiness when he talks of his treasured musical instrument.In an era where traditional instruments like segaba and of course the guitar are rarely used it is interesting to note that Sebotsa is among the few who are still stuck to this old style. He claimed that his father was a good segaba player who used to entertain his peers in various social functions but that he has never been fascinated by the instrument himself.

'I have played the guitar almost all my life and it still excites me the same way.  I respect and love it,' he said with a grin.Of late Sebotsa has been a busy man performing at various functions.  In some he would play for some small spontaneous crowds while in some cases he would be called to show off his skills to bigger audiences. 'I was honoured recently to be invited to perform at Masire's farewell (retired Botswana Defence Force commander) but this was not the first time I played to dignitaries. I had done it before,' Sebotsa told Arts & Culture confidently. Like most rural boys of his era, Sebotsa admired great guitarists such as Stampore and Andries Bok whose melodious tracks used to dominate Radio Botswana (RB) airwaves. As he grew older as a herd boy, Sebotsa made his own tin guitar and would often carry it while herding cattle.

This would keep him busy and entertained and at times bring him trouble as the livestock would go astray as he would be deeply engaged in his little fantasy.'It was easy for me to master the guitar because I had so much interest.  Maybe because traditionally Bakwena are good players of this instrument I was just following a tradition,' Sebotsa said.Sebotsa's guitar playing skills have paid dividends for a man who did not do well at school.  In fact, he told Art & Culture that he has never done any other job in his life but has raised his two children using money he earns as a performer.

He has also won three Presidential awards after he outclassed many in the annual President's Day competition.'The only time I did not win was last year when I went to China to represent the country in the cultural exchange programme. I still have to find another guitarist who can match my skills,' he boasted. It is not easy to ignore Sebotsa's talent once you attend one of his performances.  He has impressed many who watched him perform and this has resulted in him getting invitations from cities like Pretoria in South Africa.Like a traditional poet, Sebotsa says he does not write down his songs but often gets inspiration from just looking at people and situations.

'I can just look at you and play a song for you and often the melody that the guitar produces would help me come up with the lyrics as I go along. In playing a guitar and poetry are closely connected,' he said.While he continues to enjoy the limelight as one of the top traditional guitarists, Sebotsa has been motivated to share his rare talent with more people than just those who would attend his performances.  Sebotsa's debut album is on its way, done under Storms Records, the stable that gave Dikhwaere group Matona their first break a few years ago.