WATCH: Chofa shares traditional music on Tembisa streets with his homemade violin

Many aspirants’ musical dreams are cut short due to inability to acquire expensive music instruments.

But for Lesenyego ‘Chofa’ Motseletsele, such hurdles could not deny him an opportunity to express himself through music. Chofa built himself a violin that mesmerizes pedestrians on the streets of Tembisa with unique Sotho sounds.

This passionate musician produces his own songs and hopes to record one day to share his work with a broader audience.

“I started singing when I was young and still a herd boy in Lesotho. I would always sing to take away boredom throughout the day in the grazing lands along the mountains,” said Chofa.

He said he learned his music skill from fellow herd boys who were building their own music instruments. As a young boy it took Chofa about four months to learn how to play the instrument, but he said eventually he could play the violin with ease.

“For now I play for myself and anyone who cares enough to lend me an ear. I hope to play at big traditional music concerts one day. I would love to record all my work for future generations to appreciate my art. I have so many songs and I write them myself,” Chofa explained.

Asked what his instrument is called, he said the self-made violin is called segankula.

Chofa appeals to anyone who can assist him to record his work because he does not want to die with the talent without sharing it with others.

“I also want to teach young people about Sesotho cultural music.”

The segankula is made out of twigs, a four-litre empty metal tin, wire and horse tail hair.