But Rasta the Artist’s unique art has steadily endeared him to the love of many people across Southern Africa, Batswana included.
Born, Lebani Sirenje in Bulawayo to Mozambican father and Zimbabwean mother, Rasta the Artist or just Rasta as many prefer to call him, has seen his star shine in the past few years after some of his drawings of prominent figures in South Africa (SA) where he is based took the social media by storm.
The visual, portrait, mural and landscape artist was recently in Botswana where he handed over other portraits to President Mokgweetsi Masisi, First Lady, Neo Masisi as well as cabinet ministers, Annah Mokgethi and Phildah Kereng.
Following the BOMU Awards last weekend where he handed over a portrait to Kwaito group, Eskimos, Arts & Culture caught up with Rasta the Artist just before he went back to South Africa, to talk about his art and how he has found his stay in Botswana. The artist explained that his art always reflects his emotions and the emotions of the subject at the time of drawing.
He said his unique style of art has often been criticised because his drawings are not like camera picture. He explained that he believes a portrait must also be a character that creates amusement to viewers so that they enjoy viewing it repeatedly. “Same like when you take a selfie, you will delete and say this is not me but it’s you. I don't do deliberate just to think when I'm in front of a bereaved family mourning their loved one; mina I'm there doing other things. I mourn with them as well because I will be feeling that pain as well.
My art is driven with emotions and the way the person I'm portraying will be as the subject matter,” he explained. Rasta also said he is humbled that his art has been able to reach the masses and touch them. “My art is unjustified just like you can't ask a traditional healer or Sangoma how they throw their bones. All they do is to come and consult and be helped,” he added.
Reflecting on is stay in Botswana, the artist said he had the best of times in the country as he met several artists that he also adores their work. He also said he felt the love from the local fans. “My stay in Botswana has been so good. I met Thatayaone and David. These are artists that keep me on my toes and I engage with on collaborations in SA and here.
My first visit here I saw the love of my fans. I came here for a month to do my birthday tour on October 20 and I did a painting of His Excellency President Masisi and I received a portrait from Thatayaone, the artist at Thapong as a present of which I did his too. So we discussed further moves as we will engage in other countries,” he said.
Rasta the Artist said he was very impressed by the level of art in Botswana. “In my opinion art was done by the Bushmen/Khoi-Khoi on rock and that shows that it started here in Africa, Botswana. So the love for art here is awesome as I see many events that I have been to such as Fashion Without Borders,” he said. He stated that he has received several orders to draw portraits during his time in Botswana. He said he decided to draw Eskimos upon hearing that they were celebrating their 23rd anniversary as a group.
He explained that his plan was to hand over the portrait during the Kwaito group’s show but couldn’t because it clashed with his birthday. Rasta the Artist’s love for art is traceable back to the time he was in Zimbabwe where he grew up and schooled.
At the age of 19, he went to SA for job hunting and always believed that he would make it as an artist having been groomed by someone who loved and did craft and house decors back in Plumtree Zimnyama village. In SA, he first worked in restaurants for a while and only did art during his off duty of which he would sell the art pieces in malls. With his unique art taking him beyond borders, he has now gone into it full time.
