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Scorpio Lagna

Sekoto Gerard

December 9, 1913 · Botshabelo, Orange Free State
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Moon Sign
Aries
Sun Sign
Scorpio
Ascendant
Scorpio
Nakshatra
Ashwini
Birth Star
Current Dasha · Mercury / Rahu / Mercury · Aug 2026 – Jan 2027
Entertain/MusicArtSelfEmployedTravel for workEntertainmentHumanities+Social SciencesLife Path 8Destiny Number 9
Biography

Who is Sekoto Gerard?

South African artist and musician. He is recognised as the pioneer of urban black art and social realism. He has had exhibitions in Paris, Stockholm, Venice, Washington, Senegal as well as in South Africa. As the son of a missionary, music was a part of his life, and he was introduced to the family harmonium at an early age. In 1938 at the age of 25 he left for Johannesburg to pursue a career as an artist. He held his first solo exhibition in 1939. In 1940 the Johannesburg Art Gallery purchased one of his pictures; it was to be the first picture painted by a black artist to enter a museum collection. In 1942 he moved to District Six in Cape Town and in 1945 he moved to Eastwood, Pretoria. In 1947 he left South Africa to live in Paris under self-imposed exile. The first years in Paris were hard, and Sekoto was employed as a pianist purely by chance at l’Echelle de Jacob (Jacob’s ladder), a trendy nightclub that had reopened for business after World War II. Here he played jazz and sang ‘Negro Spirituals’, popular French songs of the period and some Harry Belafonte. Music became the way that he could pay his living and art school expenses. Between 1956 and 1960, several of Sekoto’s compositions were published by Les Editions Musicales. Sekoto played piano and sang on several records. He composed 29 songs, mostly excessively poignant, recalling the loneliness of exile, yet displaying the inordinate courage of someone battling to survive in a foreign cultural environment. In 1966 he visited Senegal for a year. Sekotos paintings became political in the 1970s due to apartheid in his home country. In 1989 the Johannesburg Art Gallery honoured him with a retrospective exhibition and the University of Witwatersrand with an honorary doctorate. He died on 20 March 1993 at a retirement home outside Paris. Link to Wikipedia biography
Latest Info

Latest Updates

Update at: Mar 8, 2026

Gerard Sekoto (1913–1993) — Public Profile

Biographical Overview

Gerard Sekoto was a South African painter and printmaker widely regarded as a pioneer of modern South African art. Public information about his birth date and birthplace varies; commonly cited birth year is 1913, with dates sometimes listed as December 1 or December 9. Some sources mention Botshabelo, South Africa, as his birthplace, while others cite different locations in South Africa. He left South Africa for Paris in 1941 and lived in exile for many years, continuing to create and influence the development of African modernism. Sekoto passed away in Paris in 1993.

News & Exhibitions

  • In the years since his death, Sekoto’s work has been the subject of retrospectives and scholarly studies. The 2010s and beyond have seen continued interest, including centenary commemorations around 2013 that spurred exhibitions and catalogues in South Africa and internationally.
  • Current press coverage and exhibition details are typically issued by major museums and galleries in South Africa and Europe. For up-to-date information, consult institutional press rooms and exhibition announcements from venues such as national galleries and university collections.

Social Media & Online Presence

  • There are no known official personal social media accounts for Gerard Sekoto, reflecting the era in which he lived and passed away.
  • Public information about him is primarily found through museum collections, art-history resources, auction catalogs, and gallery pages that feature his works.
  • If you search online, you may encounter museum profiles, gallery posts, and auction listings that reference Sekoto’s works and legacy.

Recent Projects & Legacy

  • Posthumous exhibitions, published catalogues, and scholarly articles continue to document Sekoto’s impact on modern African art and his influence on generations of artists.
  • Centenary activities around 2013 highlighted his international significance and contributed to scholarship and public awareness of his contributions to painting and printmaking.

Collections & Notable Facts

  • Works by Gerard Sekoto are held in major South African national and regional collections and in some international institutions and private holdings.
  • He is commonly described as a key figure in South Africa’s early modern art movements, known for urban scenes, portraits, and expressive use of line and color.

Which Raj Yogas are in Sekoto Gerard's birth chart?

2 FOUND

Sekoto Gerard's chart shows 2 Raj Yogas, including Rajju Yoga, Vasumitra Yoga.

Planetary Combinations

Which dasha is Sekoto Gerard running now?

VIMSHOTTARI

Sekoto Gerard is currently in the Mercury mahadasha, running from Aug 28, 2026 to Jan 8, 2027.

PREVIOUSApr 2, 2026 - Aug 28, 2026
Mercury / Rahu / Saturn
NOWAug 28, 2026 - Jan 8, 2027
Mercury / Rahu / Mercury
NEXTJan 8, 2027 - Mar 1, 2027
Mercury / Rahu / Ketu

What do Sekoto Gerard's numerology numbers say?

Sekoto Gerard's core numbers are Life Path 8, Destiny 9, Soul Urge 7, Personality 2, Kabbalah Number 3, Birth 9.

Life Path
8

Chaldean Life Path 8 is Saturnian—authority, ambition, and material mastery. It indicates leadership with discipline, ethics, and long-term planning.

Destiny
9

Chaldean Destiny 9 indicates humanitarian expression and completion energy. It supports service, mentoring, and influence through compassion and higher ideals.

Soul Urge
7

Chaldean Soul 7 desires truth and depth. It seeks learning, solitude, spiritual growth, and refined understanding.

Personality
2

Chaldean Personality 2 appears gentle, diplomatic, and cooperative. Others often see empathy, tact, and calm support.

Kabbalah Number
3

Kabbalah Number 3 reflects an inner spiritual code of expression and creativity. It supports communication, inspiration, and joyful manifestation.

Birth
9

Birth Number 9 in Vedic astrology: explore personality traits, life path insights, challenges, and compatibility tips to guide decisions with numerology wisdom.

Life Events & Planetary Transits

Key events mapped against the active Dasha and planetary transits at the time.

1993
Death
Death, Cause unspecified 20 March 1993
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this profile's Vedic astrology, birth chart, and numerology — answered by our astrologers.

When and where was Sekoto Gerard born?

Sekoto Gerard was born on December 9, 1913, in Botshabelo, South Africa. This birth date places him under the Sagittarius sun sign in Western astrology, while his Vedic chart shows a Scorpio sun, grounding his creative impulses with intense focus and transformative energy that would shape his artistic journey.

Which astrological yogas contributed to Sekoto Gerard's prominence in the arts?

Sekoto Gerard's chart contains Vasumitra Yoga and Rajju Yoga, both powerful combinations that amplify success and recognition. Combined with his Scorpio sun's penetrating vision and Aries moon's pioneering spirit, these yogas channeled his creative talents into influential artistic expression that earned him lasting recognition in the entertainment and humanities fields.

How does numerology reveal Sekoto Gerard's core strengths?

Sekoto Gerard's Life Path Number 8 endows him with natural authority, ambition, and material accomplishment in creative ventures. His Birth Number 9 amplifies humanitarian and artistic sensibilities, while his Soul Number 7 reflects deep introspection and spiritual insight. Together, these numerological vibrations supported his ability to create meaningful work that transcended commercial success.

What deeper purpose does Sekoto Gerard's birth chart suggest about his life mission?

Sekoto Gerard's Destiny Number 9 indicates a soul called to universal expression and completion of cycles through art. His Scorpio sun combined with Aries moon reveals a life purpose rooted in transforming raw emotion into creative work that challenges and inspires. His chart suggests he was meant to bridge personal depth with broader human experience through his artistic endeavors.

What does Sekoto Gerard's Scorpio ascendant reveal about his public presence?

Sekoto Gerard's Scorpio ascendant gave him a magnetic, intense presence that drew audiences into his artistic world. This rising sign magnifies his natural charisma, psychological depth, and ability to access hidden truths through creative expression. His lagna endowed him with the mysterious allure and penetrating insight that defined his public persona.

How does astrology explain Sekoto Gerard's career path in entertainment and the visual arts?

Sekoto Gerard's Aries moon paired with his Scorpio sun created a dynamic force for artistic innovation and self-directed creative work. His chart shows strong planetary support for entertainment, travel, and humanities pursuits. The combination of his self-employed traits, Life Path 8's executive energy, and Personality Number 2's collaborative sensitivity positioned him as both a visionary artist and cultural bridge-builder.

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