26 Jun 2016

“Being an artiste comes from the heart, passion and realisation that I have to put bread on the table for my family.”

The sentiments were echoed by Onalekitso ‘Velast’ Sefofu, the Maun born lad who described that his journey to a better life took off after he participated in the President’s Day Competitions in 2010.

“Having not performed well at school I had to use my talent to the best in order to survive,” said the 27-year-old who is in the music industry.

He competed for the first time under the contemporary music category and got position one at regional competitions and forth at national level where he was awarded P17 500.

Ever since then, Velast never looked back. Each year he tried his luck at the competitions not only for financial empowerment but also to showcase his artistic talent.

Valest is currently busy preparing for the nationals billed for July 16 under the improved category of ‘new comer live’ as he managed to grab position one in regional competitions on the 21^st of May 2016.

The competitions did not make him to be well known only but they changed his life for the better.

“Despite the hardships of not doing well from 2011 to 2013 I did not despair. I kept on pushing hard improving my talent until I scooped first position in 2014 regionally and nationally,” he said.

Today, he has a better story to tell and share with his peers as he narrated how he spent the money from his first win.

“I gave some of the money to my mother and uncle since it was the first time for me to win such a huge sum. I believe giving your parents opens doors for you as a child,” he added.

Velast said he used the other part of the money to help his dancers and to buy drums. He added that buying the drums reduced spending in hiring other music instruments.

He tells how the competitions also placed him on a better position to record his first ever album Tobetsa. He said the album was recorded at the Big Sound studio and produced by Kelvin Kaonga.

“This was my biggest achievement where I got an award at Gaborone and my mother was very proud of me,” he said.

He also scooped P25 000 and managed to record his second album called Trac-Thara.

His hit track ‘sekorokoro’ is the one that made him to be recognised nationally.

He said he wanted to show the youth that the money one gets from the Presidential competitions was not meant for alcohol or other social ills but to improve lives.

The talented Velast said he is not only focused on improving his talent but teaching other groups ways of life. He is currently inspiring groups like Dee and Afro kwasa stars and working with some artistes at Wise Minds Association, an association aimed at improving local talent.However, he said people must not shy away from the competitions as they are meant for every Motswana. He added that the President’s day competitions uprooted talents from different corners of the country which were hidden and now known by all nationwide. Ends