Those who do not know his name have casually branded him Monna yo pentang (the painting man). This is because Christopher Mokgeledi has for a long time exhibited his didactic artworks along public roads.

Before moving to his current spot in Broadhurst's Extension 16 near the Tsholofelo Park, he initially sat in front of Moselewapula Community Junior Secondary School in Gaborone Phase Four.

Art-passionate passersby, especially students, would usually invade his open workshop to view different artworks. Considering his outstanding works, some teachers advised him to apply for a part-time teaching job somewhere but he would not be persuaded. He instead decided to be self-employed after quitting his full-time job at the Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) in 2003.

"They used to call me Monna yo pentang. Even the elders who stayed in that place (Phase Four) used to direct their visitors through my working spot," recalls Mokgeledi, a self-made artist. He said his work place was converted into a gallery for students. They knew that everyday they found new pictures.

His artworks range from portraits, abstracts, wildlife, village scenes, landscapes and anything within the local environment. Some of his paintings depict historical events, cultural as well as religious ceremonies. He says, however, that he does not like doing portraits because they are time-consuming. He can also draw with pencil but he enjoys painting most.

Though he currently sits next to carpenters, among others, his paintings are more appealing than the furniture around him.

Patiently displaying his paintings along the road, he is always busy working on some, at the same time contemplating his next painting inspired by the flow of traffic up and down the busy street nearby. Africanism and religion are evident in most of his distinctive paintings.

Although he is not a trained artist, his paintings look similar to those done by art graduates. Just like music, poetry or dancing, drawing and painting are talents that someone is born with, he says.

He says art is in his blood and every time he sees something or moves around he visualises a painting. "In fact I realised my potential as an artist when schooling at Mater Spei College. We used to draw maps and I loved it when it was time for drawing," says Mokgeledi, who hails from Matsiloje.

During his spare times he drew portraits of Botswana's first President Sir Seretse Khama.

"Initially, I just did it for pleasure but some people bought my works and I raised money for oil paints and drew more." After completing Form Five he was employed by Post and Telecommunications, the company that split into BTC and Botswana Post, as an accountant though he is a professional materials manager.

As he started his full-time job in 1978, his contribution to art was limited. However, his level of understanding art improved in the process.

When BTC expressed their desire to retrench staff in about five years ago, he was the first to volunteer. He points out that he had done enough as an employee and it was time to get self-employed. "I pondered on a number of business ventures after my optional retirement but concluded that doing art on a commercial scale would the best thing for me," he recalls.

Though many people would find it ill advised to opt for retrenchment in the circumstances, Mokgeledi was brave enough to take the decision.

Now he is happy because he is doing what he loves most. Even if his paintings do not sell for days, he does not feel like dropping his brushes and start looking for a job.