(Poet, photographer, musician)
Ke iphapantšha le thlago
Eke ga ke bone letago la gago
Pelo yona e lebala mošito
Ge fela nka go bea leihlo
Ke telela poifo
Ka ba mogale ke se na marumo
Ke a fišegelwa
Ke leka go kgotlelela
Ke ile ke a go fihlela
Efela le wena o a iponela
Ga ke hloke lebaka
Ke šitwa ke maaka
Ke thlago yaka go go rata
―Lerato by Matete Motsoaledi
MATETE MOTSOALEDI passed away on the 7th of December 2020. Born in 1980, Matete grew up between Phokwane, in rural Limpopo and Soshanguve in Tshwane. Matete was a self-taught guitarist, who wrote and performed his poetry predominantly in Sepedi. Motsoaledi was actively involved in the promotion, development and preservation of his mother tongue.
He made contributions in poetry, music and photography to various literary publications. He also actively developed and curated various poetry or art platforms. At the time of his passing Motsoaledi was one of the organisers of a provincial slam poetry competitions. He was also involved in a cross-border art exchange programme which provided a platform for artists in the SADC region. Matete edited the award-winning Tšhutšhumakgala, a Sepedi biography written by first time author, Moses Seletisha.
Matete is mourned by his family, friends, fellow poets and musicians. His poetry and advocacy for home languages will be remembered along with that broad smile that we all came to love.
Rest in peace brother. Poetry Potion Salutes you.