Picture: the esteemed South African cultural icon, Kgotlaetsile Henderson Pule/Supplied
By STAFF REPORTER
6 May 2026 – The North West University (NWU) said it will proudly confer an honorary doctorate on the esteemed South African cultural icon, Kgotlaetsile Henderson Pule, in recognition of his remarkable and lifelong dedication to the preservation and advancement of South African choral music. The university said this momentous event will take place during the autumn graduation ceremony in the Great Hall at the Mahikeng Campus on 8 May 2026 at 10am, when the NWU will be celebrating academic excellence alongside cultural distinction.
The NWU (Mafikeng campus) Communication Manager, Oscar Mosiane said the honorary degree will be awarded during the university’s graduation ceremony at its Mahikeng Campus. Mosiane said Pule obtained a BA Degree in Linguistics and Setswana from University of South Africa in 1984.
“Over a distinguished career spanning four decades, he has served as a dedicated educator in schools across Lehurutshe, while simultaneously building a formidable legacy as one of South Africa’s leading choral music composers. Widely respected as a cultural educationalist and composer, his work has played a critical role in preserving and promoting the Setswana language through music.
“His compositions are regularly prescribed for school and church choirs, as well as national choral festivals, and continue to be performed and celebrated across the country. Pule has devoted more than 60 years to choral music, serving in various leadership roles, including conducting school and church choirs and the acclaimed Lehurutshe Community Choir, all of which have achieved notable excellence,” he said.
Mosiane further said in 2024, he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Buang Moloto Choral Festival, recognising his role in fostering choral excellence, promoting South African musical heritage and strengthening Afrocentric values within communities. He added that his relationship with the NWU continues to grow, following a public lecture he delivered at the university in 2023 on indigenous languages and global cultural shifts.
“During this visit, he also donated 27 academic books to the Mahikeng Campus library. In honouring Pule, the NWU celebrates not only his musical excellence but also his enduring contribution to the development and preservation of the Setswana language, ensuring its continued relevance for future generations,” said Mosiane.
The Guardian 