Welcome to the blog of the Petlo Literary Artists, a small band of Botswana writers with big dreams and even bigger imaginations. The group began as a way for us to improve our writing skills, explore new creative writing opportunities and fill the gaps in the local literary industry. Every Sunday we meet to discuss ideas, write, swap stories and critique each others' work, in the hope that we will produce high-quality material that the country, and the continent, can be proud of.
Through this blog we hope to share our journey as writers with the rest of the world, so you can all see how we go about our business, the challenges we face, the opportunities that await us and the work we put into our goal of putting literature from Botswana on the global map. The journey begins here - enjoy!
The word "petlo" refers to a tool used by woodcarvers. It is also a symbol of the creative arts. It's used here in the Trust's logo to represent the letter "t".
Barolong Seboni
Co-ordinator of the Literary Artists group, celebrated writer and Chairman of the Petlo Trust
‘One of my stories has been published a UK-based literary magazine for women writers,’ Gothataone M
25-year old Moeng’s love for writing came from reading Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series. Her areas of interest are TV and video production, filmmaking and journalism. Moeng was one of two writers from Botswana to travel to Kampala, Uganda (2004) for a Literature Festival for Contemporary African Writers. She has a story published in Long Time Coming, (an anthology published by Amabooks, Zimbabwe). Moeng feels her strongest area is short story writing, but would like to go into longer forms. Moeng, who holds a BA Media Studies from the University of Botswana, says the literary landscape in the country is a ‘little disappointing.’ However, she is optimistic that things will change as people are interested in writing and some local writers are starting to work hard and take their writing seriously. “The nation should start reading local stories and books, and writers should give the public a reason to want to read their books.”
‘Through research, Botswana can document her history,’ Sharoon Tshipa
Sharoon Tshipa believes it is time Batswana stand up and do research in order to document their history. The 22 year old is very passionate about Video & Television production, Fashion and Web Design and Public Relations. She started writing short stories and gospel songs while in grade 6. Tshipa says in anything and anyone there is a story to tell. “There is a lot to write about which is not written. Botswana is like an orchard full of ripe fruits (some of which are going to waste), they need someone to harvest them,” she says. She has a BA in Media Studies from the University of Botswana and she is of the view that local writers should be encouraged through buying and reading their work.
"I want to be the new voice that comes out of Africa," Samantha Refilwe Ferguson
23 year-old Ferguson says her love for writing dates back to the late 90s in primary school, where she read avidly and started putting words on paper as poetry. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree, majoring in English and French. Although she doesn't have anything published yet, she wants to tell Africa's story through her own voice. "The problem with Batswana is that they do not generally read," she says. "Someone will invest in a TV room rather than buy a large collection of books, therefore writers in Botswana face a challenge of writing for a nation that simply is not interested in reading."
“My greatest interest is in Setswana poetry,” Pontsho Kodisa
Twenty-year-old Pontsho Kodisa says her source of love for Setswana poetry emerged in 2003. A former Setswana teacher in Sefhare Junior Secondary School motivated her a lot through his use of the language. “Believe me, the man can speak our pure language and play with the words,” she says. The unpublished Setswana poet says, the current situation in Botswana’s literary scene is that people tend to neglect the mother language. To be a writer one has to be creative, systematic, hard working, and adventurous and be passionate about literacy arts. Kodisa it is vital for local writers to collaborate with international writers in order to exchange ideas. Furthermore, she says young writers need to be encouraged through various means by those in the scene.
‘My best work usually has some sort of supernatural twist,’ Cheryl Selase Ntumy
Cheryl Selase Ntumy is a 26 year old whose passion for writing dates back to the days she learnt how to read and write. Ntumy, a degree holder in Media Studies and a certificate in Creative Writing is determined to push African literature to the extreme. In Ntumy’s words we cannot all be Chinua Achebes. It’s time bookshops shelve African sci-fi, African fantasy and African everything. “Instead of waiting for someone else to write it, I am going to write it myself,” Ntumy says.
‘Bessie Head shaped my world,’ Baboki Kayawe
The written word is so powerful a tool that has helped her choose her career path. Kayawe says it was through the work of Bessie Head that she discovered her love for writing. One English word led her into the craft, and the word is ‘journalist’. ‘Makhaya was a journalist,’ writes Bessie Head in When Rain Clouds Gather. Her interest is in poetry, short stories and features. She has not published any short stories yet, but feels her unpublished My Friend Gladstone is a good entry piece in the literary waves. The same applies to poetry, with Fashion and His Hands; the 23 year old brings to life Wilson Ngoni’s artistic prowess and fashion sickness. A BA Media Studies holder from the University of Botswana, Kayawe aspires create the world in words. Kayawe says a lot has to be done in Botswana’s literary playing field; Batswana, and Africans generally, need to write their tales.
‘Writing has to be a passion,’ Sidi Babish
Eighteen-year-old Sidiapelo Babish says a majority of Batswana does not really read or write as a passion, rather they do so because they are obliged to. Babish, not yet published says through her writing she hopes to inspire people. “I have always had the passion I guess its natural, it’s more of a way of life,” she says.
Lesego Gaotlhobogwe
Lesego is Petlo's event organiser. He was responsible for putting together the playwriting workshop.
A history lesson
The Petlo storytellers learn from another storytelling method - two thousand-year-old rock paintings at Manyana
Hard at work at the playwriting workshop
