From early sketches on paper, tables, and even the ground, drawing became a constant thing in his life. Over time, he developed a focus on hyper-realism, a style that captures human faces with painstaking detail, allowing him to convey emotion and preserve moments in a way that photographs cannot. His work often explores the human experience, capturing the subtle expressions that tell a story beyond the image itself. In 2022, Sefako created a charcoal portrait of the late musician ATI. Following ATI’s passing, he felt compelled to expand the tribute, adding fellow departed artists, Sasa Klaas and Dramaboi. “I realised how ATI’s loss meant another star had left us. I wanted to create a scene that never existed, bringing them together on paper,” he said in an interview with Arts&Culture. The final piece, completed over three days totaling 23 hours, measures one meter by 700 millimeters. Sefako says he worked from five separate photographs: ATI’s body and face, Sasa Klaas’ body and face, and Dramaboi, carefully adjusting poses to form a single composition. In the artwork, Dramaboi’s arms reach out to embrace ATI and Sasa Klaas, creating a gesture of unity and remembrance.
For Sefako, the process was both technical and personal. “I listened to their music on repeat. Matlharetlhare by Dramaboi, Ah Ke Mo Khandeng by Sasa Klaas, and Mapodise by ATI while drawing. It was a sad but peaceful experience,” he recalls. He describes the work as more than just a likeness of the musicians, but as a way to preserve their presence in collective memory. “It is more than a photo; it carries life. People can connect to these artists again through the artwork,” he says. Sefako’s journey as an artist has been shaped by years of study and practice. He excelled in art from an early age, earning top marks at Mahalapye Pekenene CJSS and Madiba Senior School, and later completing a degree in Architecture at the University of Botswana. His career has included both commissioned work and teaching, offering masterclasses to young artists and sharing techniques for drawing, shading, and composition. Through his work, he emphasises the importance of observation and connecting with the subject, values that are evident in the precision and emotion of his portraits. Since the tribute was shared on social media, it has resonated widely, allowing people to mourn and reflect collectively. Sefako’s drawing brings three artists together, creating a conceptual space where their legacies intersect. “This piece will always remain meaningful to me; it captures the artists and, in a way, the connection they had with the people.” He says.
