11 Mar 2026

Twenty-seven years ago, in the quiet village of Kachikau, Selelo Kavuna was born.

From his earliest days in primary school, he stood out among his peers as a budding artist. What began as playful wire-car toys, modelled after construction, mining and logistics trucks, soon revealed itself as the foundation of a lifelong calling.

 “I became more curious about art and design, and I opted for the subject at junior school,” recalled Kauna as he shared his journey during an interview. 

He said senior school expanded his horizons further, introducing him to modelling, woodcarving and sculpting techniques.

To hone his creativity, he also challenged himself by working with diverse materials such as paper mâché, clay, plaster of Paris and epoxy resin, proving his versatility in creating sculptures, busts, statues and utility models. Kavuna said for him, applied arts, the fusion of design and practicality, represented the future.

“Applied arts overlap with decorative arts, and modern applied art is usually called design,” he said.

Today, trading under Rovep Holdings, Kavuna focuses on cement-based products, water fountains and sculptures. He said his clientele ranged from individuals seeking decorative pieces to government departments and councils commissioning monumental works. 

Beyond commercial art, he is also an inventor, currently developing concepts such as a multifunction wheelchair, a shoe-washing machine and a self-loading truck.

Kavuna’s vision for Rovep Holdings is clear, “to lead Botswana’s arts industry through dynamism, innovation and creativity.”

With the company’s slogan: Living the Art, he said his plan was to expand into Rovep Creative Centre, a hub for applied arts. 

Despite his success, Kavuna’s journey had not been without challenges. He said Patent registration costs remained a heavy burden, while the absence of a dedicated workshop limited his operations. Yet his resilience continues to shine through.

 A BA Honours graduate in Human Resources Management from ABM College, Kavuna has also mastered hairdressing, demonstrating his industrious spirit. He trained under the Self Employment Training (SET) programmes and was a member of Thapong Visual Arts Centre from 2018 to 2022.

 Kavuna’s advice to fellow artists is pragmatic, “Since art is broad, find your position and commercialise your ideas,” he shared.

He also urged government to invest in grooming emerging talent rather than focusing only on established names.  BOPA