Segola, Robalang recognised
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Sunday July 24, 2022 06:00
The two were awarded trophies as well as P10,000 each for Best in Mentorship and Visual and Performing arts respectively. Segola, who hails from Molepolole, has a rich profile especially in the fields of fine arts in Botswana. A Motswana artist born in 1948 in South Africa, Segola emerged as a central figure in the art scene over decades.
As an artist, Segola has been responsible for some of the most recognisable designs in Botswana’s history such as the Tirelo Sechaba, Air Botswana and the Motho-le-Motho-Kgomo campaign logos.
The Motho-le-Motho-Kgomo campaign was an initiative of the late former president Sir Seretse Khama to raise funds for the establishment of the University of Botswana (UB).
It is said that Segola was the first Motswana to be trained in fine arts abroad and was one of the artists in MEDU Art Ensemble. He is also credited for the title of being the first Motswana graphic designer at the then Department of Information and Broadcasting.
Some of his artworks are found in private collections in Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and the USA as well as the Botswana National Museum Monuments and Art Gallery and Bank of Botswana Fine Art Collection.
His formal work experience includes, being head of the visual arts at the Botswana National Museum Monuments and Art Gallery and the Department of Arts and Culture where he played an important role in the growth of the National Art Collection.
Segola has supervised art projects as well as being involved in curating wide range of art exhibitions both by private artists and in government and academic institutions.
He has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Graphic Design from Newcastle-upon-Tyne-Polytechinc, United Kingdom.
He currently runs a design consultancy named ‘Segola Fine Art’. On the other hand, Robalang who hails from Mmashoro Village is famous for her song Ba Kgomogi otherwise popularly known as Go ka tweng? Former radio personality, Batho Molema and his team recorded the song during the 1968-69 recording expedition.
Born in 1921 at Sokwe settlement, Robalang explained that the song was a protest of the ill-treatment she received at the hands of her better off relatives, who worked her like a slave only to forget her when it is time to eat.
She later on recorded her other song titled Kedidimetse o a lwala. Her songs have been used by artists such as Puna Gabasiane and Jeff Matheatau, to enhance their music by incorporating the old vibes with the contemporary styles.
Meanwhile, other big winners at the awards ceremony include Bakang Moiti otherwise known as Baxon in the music industry who walked away P50,000 richer for the Best Music Video award.
Thebe Kegomoditswe also received P50,000 for Best Video Production House while music composers Gabriel Malikongwa and Puso Phetoe also got rewarded with P50,000 each for their awards as Best Composer Choral Music (Standard category) and Large category respectively.