“Music is my purpose” says local artist

Creating and performing arts is something that has been a part of Lebogang Mosebi’s (24) life. He is an artist, a songwriter and a poet. He further describes himself as an intellectual and an academic. Lebo was born in Parys, but grew up in Potchefstroom. He says that growing up was bitter sweet, as he lost his mother when he was five years old, but by the grace of God, he was raised by a family that took good care of him.

Lebo says that most of his earliest childhood memories had music playing in the background. He says when he thinks about the memories he shared with his mother, he remembers hearing songs by Celine Dion.

Throughout his life, he has been inspired by music. Lebo laughs and says, “Some days my aunt would tell me I would sing in my sleep.”

At the tender age of 11, he wrote his first song. He says that thus far, his music career has been a journey. His stage name is Lebo Smooth Operator  and has performed in front of  crowds, and hears them chant “Lebo! Lebo! Lebo”, he says. He mentions that after he recorded his first song in 2017, he released his first Extended Play (EP) called Lebo Smooth-Operator EP which is made up of 10 songs. His body of work can be found on internet platforms, such as YouTube.

“In short what led me to do music, is that I feel it to be my purpose and I cannot afford to be anything less than my full potential,” he says.

Besides creating music, Lebo has also obtained a BA communications qualification and is certified to teach English as a second language, which he is currently doing in Ankang, China.

Once Lebo returns to South Africa, he wishes to continue to pursue his musical career and has hopes that it will grow tremendously. Lebo says that upon his arrival, he will be going on a radio tour that will include other music lovers from other provinces, as well as doing more performances and more interviews.

Lebo hopes to inspire young artists to focus on school and to gain enough knowledge, especially when it comes to decision-making when it comes to their futures. “I also hope to inspire the youth of Potchefstroom to pursue positive things in life and not to give into drugs and other destructive substances”, Lebo states.