"Leave gays and lesbians alone"- Motswafere
Born Motswakgakala Sithole in the small settlement of Patayamatebele, Motswafere, as he is popularly known in the music circles, is a man who is true to himself.
The former My Star finalist believes in a world of possibilities. He recently graduated form the University of Botswana majoring in Photography and Public Relations. Currently, he co-owns a make-up and events company. He is a firm believer in beauty and he advises parents to support their children who want to make it big in the entertainment industry.
“Parents see the arts as a hobby. They don’t believe they can put food on the table just like law, nursing and any other profession,” he says. The 23-year-old and last born in a family of six believes that ‘You cannot be anything else if you were created to be an artist.’
What Motswafere wants people to know is that despite his glamorous looks, he comes from a small village that does not even have electricity. It is rare to come across a household with a television set at Patayamatebele, which is near Tonota, he says. Thanks to My Star, Motswafere first set his foot in Gaborone in 2012 to contest in the talent show.
“I’m just a traditional guy, whose siblings are way older than him and who was taught good manners from a tender age,” he states. But again, he describes himself as a straight-forward person, a real-talker who calls things as they are. We’re all sinnersThe talented singer and dancer is not perturbed by the opinions of other people about his sexual orientation. His dress sense, the posture, hairdo, voice projection and make-up got people talking when he appeared on their television screens every Sunday. Many labeled him gay, saying he projects himself like a woman, something he feels should not be their business.
According to Motswafere, people get it twisted when it comes to homosexuals. His observation is that when people think that there is something they would not tolerate, they shun it and want others to feel less important. He says that people who are not gay or lesbians should live their lives and leave homosexuals alone. “But we all have flaws, imperfections and sins. Members of the public must leave gays and lesbians to live their lives. It’s theirs not yours, live yours in peace,” he says, adding, ‘Majority of people in this world are heterosexual, so they discriminate against those that are not.’
Perhaps what he likes about some Batswana is that even though they do not like gays and lesbians, ‘they just talk about it and don’t beat or kill them unlike in other countries.’ He further encourages LGBT community to live free and happy lives without intimidation.
Motswafere has been wearing make-up since the age of eight and says he will take it to his grave. He sees himself on big billboards, speaking to groups of people on life issues and owning his make-up company, specifically for black people. His motto is simple: “The only person I have is myself, so I have to use myself to inspire other people.”