Andries Bok dead at 56

Chippa Legodimo | Tuesday December 3, 2013 15:46

 

News on the passing of the seasoned acoustic guitar player were confirmed by the village chief Keleofile Phihadu who described Bok's death as a great loss to the whole nation.

'He was a hero to us here in Werda. He put this village on the map and was a role model to many.

He was one of those true legends of traditional music and I believe the country has lost a great artist,' Phihadu told Showbiz.

The 56-year-old man popularly known for Radio Botswana's Tsa Temo Thuo theme song, lived in abject poverty.

'He has been ill for some time now and we had hoped that he would recover but here we are now. He will be solely missed,' said Phihadu.

After this publication did a story on Bok's predicament last year, employees of the Department of Veterinary Services resolved to build him a house, which according to Phihadu was still at foundation level.

When Showbiz visited Bok in Werda last year, he had also lost his eyesight.  He was living in a makeshift structure with his mother and younger brother Tsotsi.

Bok's death on Sunday comes just a year after the passing of another folklore musician Stampore (Malefo Mokha).