30 Nov 2016

The year was July 25, 2016 when the then 26 year old Nnete Kelebilemang mastered courage and approached President, Lt Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, during his Kgotla meeting and requested a laptop that he would use to create his music.

Kelebilemang of Etsha 13, now 28 years old is popularly known for his guitar playing skills which he has been playing from as ealy age when he was seven years.

He said it all started with a man-made guitar that his brother created for him after begging him  many times to get him one.

Kelebilemang would play the guitar every day after school, and his skills grew ever since then. Popularly known as Vango Star, Kelebilemang has recently been working on his first kwasa-kwasa/ rhumba album which will be released early 2017. It has songs like Jeso Ke Morena, Tautona Khama, Re gopole and many other ones.

In the growth of his career, Kelebilemang approached President Khama in a kgotla meeting which was held in Etsha 13. Some 31 days later he said, his request was successful as a brand new computer and microphone were delivered at his door steps by the area MP Thato Kwerepe.

Participating in the arts and culture competition in the guitar category helped him save some money that he used to buy a mixer, speakers and an electric guitar. Like many other young men in Etsha 13, Kelebilemang relied on dug-out canoeing at local camps in the delta, but he said ever since he started focussing on his music career, his hands are tied. He does a printing and photocopying service in his studio to

diversify his income.

He further explained that he contributed to most of the work in his album. He plays all the guitars, lead vocals and he is the one going to distribute the album as he is currently not financially stable to engage other professionals.

He also said his studio is open to locals for recording anything if they would want but currently there has been no one who came to him for such help.

Just like most aspiring artistes, Kelebilemang’s dream is to see his music career grow bigger and be like some of the popular artistes like Franco, Alfredo Mos and Jeff Matheatau.

He said he wants his first album to be heard country wide as he intends to send it to different local radio stations more especially Radio Botswana.
 

He also wants to tour the country once he is well financed. He said he would like to partner with other popular artistes in order to penetrate the market. ENDS