Charles Kakomee-Tjeja

Motswana sculptor, visual artist, poet, photographer, actor, comic book artist, production designer, and corporate emcee, best known for transforming discarded scrap metal into large-scale sculptures. Originally from Kareng, Botswana, he is widely regarded as one of the country's most innovative contemporary artists.

Early life and education Kakomee-Tjeja was born and raised in Kareng, Botswana. His interest in art was sparked at an early age through the influence of his father, a skilled woodcarver, welder, and metal fabricator. As a child, he regularly observed his father working with raw materials, an experience that left a lasting impression on his creative development and laid the foundation for his later career in sculpture.

He pursued tertiary education at Molepolole Teaching College, where he earned a Diploma in Secondary Education with a focus on art and music. Following graduation, he began his professional life as a secondary school art teacher.

Another prominent series is Mukaa Kotjitenda (loosely translated as "a woman of metal" or "one who is married to metal"), a collection of life-sized sculptures depicting women in traditional ovaHerero and ovaMbanderu attire. The series honours the resilience of African women and serves as a tribute to the Herero and Mbanderu communities who survived the early twentieth-century genocide carried out by German colonial forces in what is now Namibia.

Public engagement and recognition Kakomee-Tjeja has participated in several prominent exhibitions and competitions. He has competed in President's Day competitions, earning recognition at both regional and national levels. In 2024, he achieved first-place results across multiple categories, including sculpture, poetry, and photography, at the National Arts Festival held in Ghanzi.

He exhibited at the 2024 Makgadikgadi Epic, where his sculptures were among the primary attractions in a dedicated visual arts space spanning approximately one kilometre. The event brought him international attention, with interest from clients in Namibia and the Netherlands. His profile also grew following a post by CEDA ambassador Sonny Serite, who publicly shared his acquisition of one of Kakomee-Tjeja's camera sculptures, drawing wider public attention to the artist's work.

His work has been featured in several Botswana media outlets including the Daily News and the Botswana Guardian. He has expressed a long-term vision of establishing a public sculpture park and fostering a large-scale artistic movement across Botswana's major cities.