Selaelo Selota is passionate about teaching music
GUITAR maestro Selaelo Selota has vowed to surprise audiences at his upcoming one-man show titled “Tribes of Tomorrow” at Jack Botes Hall in Polokwane this Saturday.
The legend, arguably the best living guitarist and composer in the country, said the project aimed to teach up and coming artists to rely on their own talents to make ends meet, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic that saw thousands of careers ending because they could not perform.
Selota, who has played a part in the success of the likes of Judith Sephuma, Malatji and many others, has seven albums under his belt and is working on an eighth. Speaking to the Independent Media, he said his passion for teaching “music to music lovers” was unending.
“‘Tribes of Tomorrow’ is a project I created as a platform to plug up-and-coming musicians into the industry and mentor them to their full potential … to mentor and guide them until they reach national status.”
He said he hoped to stretch the project across all provinces in an effort to teach others. “I got seed funding from the National Arts Council under the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme, as a way of creating opportunities for other artists after the Covid-19 pandemic destroyed most of the industry. But ‘Tribes of Tomorrow’ has legs of its own now because it is driven from the heart and passion to impact other people.”
Selota was raised in Limpopo, but he had his last one-man show in Polokwane 17 years ago. “I am doing a concert on my own because that is how I started in the music industry.
“It is not easy to be booked when no one knows you. In the beginning of my musical career, even before I knew much, I created my own spaces and opportunities. I would go and find venues that could accommodate me and hope on a door deal.
“Then I would create my own poster, using any type of picture that resonates with how I feel about my music, and put them on an A3 paper and go in the night to put them on walls, street poles and places closer to the venue. I guess creating my own work has always been part of my life.
“I perform, I can teach, I can compose for television, film, or do any other work if I have to. But it has been a good challenge. It gives you freedom and in it builds character. In the end, it gives you longevity.”
Selota said his fans would be surprised at the performance next Saturday. “The audience can expect to see and hear performances and music they have never heard before.”
And fans said they could not wait to see the legend perform their favourite songs. Mxolisi Manyane from Tembisa in Gauteng said he was willing to travel all the way to Limpopo to see Selota. “Selaelo Selota is priceless and so we should support him as long as he lives,” he said.