A scene from Morwa

As part of their weeklong events, the now renowned Gaborone International Music and Culture Week (GIMC) have included Theatre in their programme of events. The event, in its third year running has grown in leaps and bounds and has since been listed amongst the top ten events to attend in Africa. The organisers are working with some of the country’s best Theatre performers to tell Botswana’s story.

The top three plays that have been selected to partake at the theatre night include Blue, Black and White by Donald Molosi which tells the romantic love story of the interracial marriage of former President Seretse Khama and Ruth Khama. A Woman of Many Firsts by Moduduetso Lecoge which tells the story of Dr Gaositwe Chiepe right from her upbringing through to becoming the icon she is today as well as Morwa by Tefo Paya which depicts the struggles of growing up in Botswana from as far back as 1966 when we gained independence and the challenges faced by men growing up in Africa.      

The headliner of the night is Blue, Black and White, the award winning off- Broadway play. It is the longest-running one-man show in Botswana’s history and it always brings pleasure for Donald to perform it for Batswana.

“Not only is it the first Botswana play off-Broadway but it is also the first play ever staged professionally about Sir Seretse and Lady Ruth Khama’s transformative inter-racial marriage. I therefore find it fitting to perform it in Botswana this year as Botswana turns 50,” said Molosi.

The play has been performed around the world and it won several awards.   

Another play that many Batswana will have an opportunity to cherish is A Woman of Many Firsts played by Moduduetso Lecoge and directed by Moletedi- One Ntseme. The one- woman play tracks Dr G.K.T Chiepe’s progression as a young Motswana girl from Serowe through her career in education, administration, diplomatic service and politics, right up until her retirement. She is definitely an icon that Botswana needs to know more about. Through this play, Batswana will engage with part of their history.

She definitely set standards from a young age. She attended secondary school at the prestigious Tigerkloof College in South Africa during apartheid era. Thereafter, with the help of the Government of Botswana’s (then Bechuanaland Protectorate) scholarship, she proceeded to Fort Hare University where she completed as one of the few black females in the world to graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology and Botany. Furthermore, she went to read for her Master’s Degree at the University of Bristol in the UK in the 1950’s. She was the first Motswana female to attain a Master’s degree.

Dr G.K.T Chiepe’s illustrious career in education, administration, diplomatic service and politics spans over 5 decades from 1948 to 1999. She was the first Motswana female Education Officer during her time. She climbed the ranks until she became the first female Director of Education. Then she later became the first female African High Commissioner to the United Kingdom after Botswana’s independence. For a long time, Dr. Chiepe was the only female in the Botswana Cabinet; first as a specially elected Member of Parliament and later as an elected Member of Parliament for Serowe South.

Morwa’, The Rising Son speaks back to the challenges faced by a young man growing up in Botswana. Paya strongly believes that as much as we must celebrate our achievements over the past 50 years, we cannot forget the struggles that Batswana go through every day. Morwa is a play that uses personal narrative although it is relevant to all Batswana.It challenges the audience to gain a deeper understanding of how people's experiences as they grow up can deeply affect them and in turn help them relook at themselves and how they live their lives.

“At this point in our country’s history, where we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we must also take time for reflection and introspection. We have achieved great things but we have also had many short falls and if we do not learn from our short falls and improve them, we may not have much to celebrate in the coming 50 years,” said Paya in an interview with WeekendLife.  

His play also looks at how we raise the boy child, “if we do not raise the boy child to be more caring, more considerate and empathetic, we are in trouble, socially. If you look at most social issues, at the root of the problem is the patriarchal system and men,” he asserted.  

The play is about Morwa, a young Motswana man on his journey of discovering what it means to be a man. The play is based on Paya’s personal narrative and looks to evoke dialogue and a better understanding of the challenges faced by Young Men in Africa. The play poses many questions about Masculinity, Gender Roles and Identity.

In this intense performance, Paya delivers a combination of story-telling, physical theatre and ritual. This play was awarded The Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa in 2015. The plays will be performed at Mantlwaneng Theatre at Westwood School on August 30th 2016.