Drummer boy on the way to the top

Kgalalelo Lephoko is a living proof that musicians are born and not made.

The 11-year old boy along with his parents did not have it easy in the beginning of his first year of school.

“As he went to a state primary school in eMalahleni, teachers began to see that he can’t concentrate like other students,” said his father, Themba Lephoko.

Besides Kgalalelos’ problem at school, he could not keep his hands off music records.

“He would take a music record his aunt bought him and after listening to it a few times, he would know all the songs, the composer and everything written on the album by heart,” Themba proudly said.

It later came to light that his son had autism disorder that refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences.

Kgalalelo started getting quite and never use to say a word anymore when his father took in his roll and went to investigate what the real problem for his son’s sudden silence.

“One day I thought to myself to go to his school just to check up on him and see what he was doing,” said Themba.

eMalahleni’s drummer boy

He could not find his son in the class he had to be in and after looking everywhere for his son, he came upon a sight of sadness.

“That day my heart broke as a parent. I found Kgalalelo sitting in a corner, alone on the sports field. I went to him and asked him what the problem is and he said he is not happy,” he added.

It was then when Kgalalelos’ dream was answered as his dad asks him if he wants to do music for a living.

“I took my boy’s hand and we walked to Arts Campus not knowing what to except from here on,” he said with a smile.

After going to his first class the head of Arts Campus, Marie Lombard came to Themba and told him what exceptional boy he had and what talent was hiding inside of him. “I was speechless as she told me that my boy can play piano on a level the teachers is giving class. He can even play drums and read music notes,” with so much pride Themba added.

Kgalalelos’ talent that is playing drums made him go through to the finals of Talent Africa that will be held in New York this year.

“A parent can not be more proud of his or her child as we are of Kgalalelo. Even if he can not go to New York, I would just keep on praying for him to get his own set of drums. As he is the only drummer boy without his own drums,” he concluded teary.