Phokoje’s recent effervescent exhibition of her “never seen before photographs” was not just a presentation of Botswana’s natural beauty but also a demonstration of her life journey. The exhibition titled, ‘Ikigai’ was held at the Cotton Cloud in the Fields Mall on May 26-27.

Her photographs on display showed the beauty of Botswana’s natural wildlife and environment. They take one through a journey of emotions and her love for photography which started as just a burning sensation to capture moments for memories.

They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And that’s exactly what Phokoje has done. Through her photographs, she believes she is serving her purpose in life, which is more than just raising awareness about the beauty of the motherland and its conservation.

“I have found even more purpose to life through photography. I’m already living a life of positivity, a life of purpose. This is my life; I have been surviving through handouts and ‘Ikigai’ felt like a good explanation of the phase I’m in,”. Phokoje said during the official opening of the two-day event. Phokoje, who is also a poet, said after losing her job last year, she had to find means to survive. As someone who was very fond of pictures, she decided to use YouTube to learn the art of taking pictures, and wildlife photography became her immediate choice because of her love for nature. The Setswana idiom; ‘Phokoje go tshela yo o dithetsenyana’ exactly sums up her character. The talented photographer is a true survivor.

“When I was growing up, I went through a journey. I kept on and on. I’m a matriarch. I’m a Phokoje so I associate with animals. As a poet, I feel like photography is telling a bigger story. What we memorise sometimes gets distorted but with a picture, it stays on,” she added. She says Botswana and Africa have so much to offer and could only be explored and captured through a camera.

To show my commitment to this passion, Phokoje says she has also acquired a Guide License, which will allow her to learn more about nature and teach those that she would host during safari excursions. Still at the exhibition, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB), Shombi Ellis said people should start treating art like any other profession. “Tshepo has shown that we should stop promoting art but pay artists. We want to encourage you to consume the art.

The only way to take it to other places is through consumption and give artists like Tshepo the essence of who they are,” Ellis said. “’Ikigai’ means you are passionate. We are excited about the kinds of art that take us to those places. It says you are the purpose in life; add value and you are talented.”

Among some of them include the ‘Twilight’.

It’s a silhouette. It’s a series of photographs of different wild animals taken just before the sun completely goes down. According to Phokoje, the photographs portray a story of conservation. Another captivating one is called ‘The elusive Leopard’.

There were two other vivacious photographs that were put up for auction during the opening of the exhibition titled ‘Cloud 9’ and the ‘Wearver’s Hands’. The ‘Weaver’s Hands’ was sold for P11,000 to Ellis. The event was sponsored by Cotton Cloud, Staywell Hotels, Primitive Creations, Her Photography, Phodiso Modirwa, Tlhase Films, Juby Peacock, Regen Manufacturers, Art Curation with MotherK, Booh Events, Mashatu Game Reserve, Karabo Media and Communications Consultancy, Ngami Data Services, and the BTO.