Moses SeletiĊĦa doubly contemplates his acceptance of an invitation from then-president Kgalema Motlanthe to perform at the official launch of his foundation as both his proudest moment and biggest mistake. It is ill-advised for an artist, he opines, to declare oneâs political affiliations publicly. The Sepedi performance poet and author hails from Ga-Matlala âa Rakgoadi in rural Limpopo, and boasts a burgeoning career seemingly unencumbered by his perceived faux pas. His poem Mahlalerwa earned him a Sol Plaatje European Union Poetry Award in 2017, the first recipient writing in a language other than English or Afrikaans. He penned TĊĦhutĊĦhumakgala, a Sepedi biography of struggle stalwart Tlokwe Maserumule, which earned him a South African Literary Award, and Ke Hwa NatĊĦo, a short play about honouring oneâs oaths. SeletiĊĦa has also received recognition from the National Heritage Council of South Africa and mentors young authors seeking literary guidance.
I accept that failure will always be present through my journey, but it is how I respond to it that will determine whether it is a learning opportunity.