13 Feb 2018

Like many folk guitarists, Solly Sebotso has a story to tell.

His is a story that fits the line of all the other great guitarists of his generation; where parents discouraged their children from playing motontonyane (a tin guitar) because it was a ‘waste of time.’

It was a conflict that pitted parents and children into a battle, and some parents won because their children ultimately quit.

However, other parents lost because the children would just brave the whips and never quit, and those children went on to become the greatest guitarists in the nation.

Sebotso, one of the stubborn ones who refused to quit, recalls one of those fateful days where he was whipped.

One day, he said, they were at the lands and preparing some oxen for ploughing, when suddenly his father realised that a few of the beasts were missing. The young Sebotso had been tasked to keep an eye on them and so it was only obvious that the wrath would befall him.

When quizzed on the whereabouts of the oxen, he didn’t have an outright answer, and the consequences was a thorough whipping for his father believed the beasts went astray while he was busy with his guitar. After all, he had on numerous occasions reprimanded him for playing the ‘useless’ instrument.

“My father believed that a guitar was for people with no focus, those who would amount to nothing in life,” he recalls with a grin. Fast forward to a few decades, and today Solly Ramasole Sebotso is arguably the best guitarist the country has ever had.

His journey from the whips he got from letting astray the oxen to where he is today has been a journey of struggle.

“Like most guitarists in the country, I stated playing a motontonyane, a home-made guitar made from a 5 litre container can.

As I played, I realised that I was not that bad, and as I grew up I managed to get some money to buy a better guitar.

He said at that stage, it was then that his parents started realising that their son had a real talent on the instrument.

“At that moment I had already quit school. I have to admit that I was not that academically gifted and I realised that early in my life, hence more concentration on the guitar because I had realised that it was my only way to a better life,” he said.

He said leaving school was a blessing in disguise as he now had more time to hone his skills, and that his parents had now accepted his choice and were a bit supportive. People then started realising his talent and invitations to play at events like weddings and parties rolled in.

He said he then raised enough money to buy a top class electric guitar worth P5 000.

However, Sebotso hailed the introduction of the President’s Day Competitions as well as Constituency Arts Competitions as a springboard to his career.

“I started taking part in the President’s Day Competitions in 2009 and became the national champion that year and the following year in 2010, then in 2011 I went to play in China and I was then dethroned in absentia. In 2012 I reclaimed my glory,” he said with satisfaction.

Meanwhile in the Constituency Arts Competitions, the Letlhakeng native got position one in all the competitions that he entered.

Sebotso said from 2014, there emerged a few young guitarists such as Batlaadira Radipitse that at times relegated him to position two in the President’s Day Competitions, but said he still proudly holds the record of being the only guitarist to make it to the national finals since 2009, except in 2011 when he was away.

Botswana is blessed with many talented guitarists that would at any given day give Sebotso a run for his money, so who does he fear on the stage. “No one,” he said in short and confidence.

“To be sincere and honest with you, all the great guitar players have passed on. I respected players like Sam Raditsebe, Tlhabano Molatlhiwa and Stampore. Those were great guitarists who were a class of their own.

Nowadays we only have copy-cats that are not original, but simply mimick styles of others and only change the lyrics,” he said.

Sebotso however, holds high his best friend in the industry, Sebonki ‘Sbongile” Kgaile as one of a few originals that remain. “Sbongile is one of a few original guitarists that we have left.

He has his unique playing style that is so distinguishable and hard to copy. He is the only guitarist that whenever I play with, people take interest and listen.

He is also a good competitor,” he said of the giant Thamaga native.

Sebotso also said that he has realised that he was the most copied guitarist in the country as most up and coming guitarists use his playing style.

“I am not saying that upcoming guitarists must not copy from their mentors, what I only want them to do is to come up with their own playing style. It is not right that when you play, people can immediately notice another guitarist in your songs,” he advised.

With experience that spans many years, many expect that he would have recorded an album by now.

He said he did record an album a few years back but disagreements with his promoters frustrated efforts to take the album to the market, but the humble and modest Sebotso said that he has something in store for his fans this year.

Sebotso also sings praises of President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama for his passion in ensuring that traditional music got recognition.

“To tell you the truth, I got my breakthrough in music after the advent of President’s Day Competitions as well as Constituency Arts Competitions. President Khama really did well to afford us an opportunity to show our talent, if it was not of him I do not know where some of us would be.

Although talented, we would be struggling, so I really owe my life and recognition to him,” he said.

Sebotso said through the competitions, people have come to know them and now invitations to perform at events come in time and again.

He said because of the two competitions, he managed to buy two vehicles, one for business, and a sound system worth P15 000 that he uses in his performances.

His best friend in the industry, Kgaile labelled Sebotso as a “monster” in as far as playing the guitar is concerned.

“I have known him from as far as 1996 and can proudly say I have a hand in his growth. Since the day we met we have been close friends and play together in shows such as Dithubaruba and many others,” he said.

Kgaile also reiterated the concern about artistes mimicking them, saying that they were even contemplating taking some of them before relevant authorities.

“People are illegally making money out of our songs, and it bleeds my heart more when it comes to Solly because in 2016, he was the most copied artiste.

One artiste even took his songs and cut a whole album,” he said.

Kgaile said it was only a pity that Sebotso was taking slowly his advice to register with COSBOTS.

“I have long advised him to register with COSBOTS because it would lay legitimacy to his works.

He would also enjoy the royalties when his songs are played,” he said.

Kgaile said that otherwise, Sebotso was a great artiste that he doesn’t mind losing in competitions.

“When you lose to Solly, you don’t have to beat yourself because you know you have lost to a great player, it is not like just any other artiste,” he said, indicating the mutual respect the two have for each other.

Kgaile also revealed that he and Sebotso were planning to collaborate on an album sometime this year.

Meanwhile during the interview, Sebotso keeps checking his timepiece time and again, and ultimately reveals the reason. “You would have to make it quick because I have to meet a few guys in Molepolole.

We are arranging a gig this weekend,” he said, putting the pressure to wrap up the interview.

As he rises up, the ever humble Sebotso made a final plea, as if an afterthought, to Batswana to keep on supporting traditional artistes.

“We have been overlooked for so long, and it is only through the support of Batswana that we can make something of our lives with our modest talent,” he said as he signed off.ENDS