09 Mar 2015

A Setswana saying goes: ‘Ntsanyana ya maitaya sebata e bonelwa mabotobotong,’ which means that talent can be identified at young age. 

Some children are innately gifted and talented and do not even have to go to school to sharpen their artistic skills.  It seems that is a similar situation, which Douglas Selalome of Mmathubudukwane, went through when he grew up.

The middle aged man never went to school to study art or any course to sharpen his skills in sculpture but he loved playing with paper and pencil from his early basic education studies. He said this was always his dream to draw and paint and this desire grew with him and most often he found himself making amazing designs which many people loved.

Selalome said when he started his interest was drawing but as he grew up he also loved making animal designs (sculptures) with wires stuffed with wet old newspapers using glue for fastening purposes. Selalome further said it was easier to work with paper since it dried quickly and could conform to any shape one wanted without much hassle.

He added that he had made different sculptures of many animals which people bought, while many others placed orders for him to beautify their homesteads.

He said he designed flowerpots of any kind and made designs from sand or waste paper at which people did not look twice before purchasing. The sculptor also said he paraded his designs and artifacts at Vision 2016 celebrations in 2011 in their village which exposed him to the wider market and saw his business grow. 

The talented artist said during the infancy of his business he made a lot of money but along the way he lapsed and concentrated on other life issues. That, he said, affected his business and somehow it declined but he has since revived it and wanted to start afresh as he knew he could make more money and live better.

He said he wanted to participate in the presidential art competitions which he had been ignoring for some time but he knew that he could give other artists a tough competition. 

The multitalented artist said, despite his business dwindling because he did not give it attention, he had been facing some challenges like any other business person.

He said his major challenge was lack of transport because he had to travel far to get the necessary materials for his business.

He said he had not been exhibiting his products, which meant he had not been exposed to the market and that on its own had made things difficult for him.

Mr Selalome said he believed that if he went out he would be able to market his products and his business would ultimately grow. 

He advised the youth not to delay working on their dreams because there was a saying in Setswana which went like ‘Mosele wa pula o epiwa go sale gale’, thereby imploring them to pursue their dreams without a fret and prepare a better future for themselves.  ENDS