The challenges writers face in Botswana

By Baboki Kayawe

Petlo Literary Arts Trust lamented lack of support in the arts and literature. The trust's president, Barolong Seboni said a lot of focus is on supporting sports activities, especially football. He said inordinate sums of money is spent in football, and areas such as popular music and literacy are neglected yet they have a potential of putting Botswana in the world map.

Seboni said a book touches many lives and sponsors have to realise that unlike a football match whose publicity ends when the game does, a book has a long shelve life. He pointed out the lack of resources and recognition as major setbacks in the country's literary industry. He said Batswana writers need support from their own people - which is still insufficient. He refuted allegations that Batswana do not have a reading culture, that it is only a myth as evidenced by high sales of newspapers in the country. He said this during a one-day writers retreat in Manyana and Livingstone Kolobeng, the aim of which was to inspire the trust's writers. "As writers there is a need to experience local cultures and traditions, so that as Batswana we can write our stories from a more informed angle," he said. This, he said would help universal readers experience the writers world and other cultures.

One of the artists, Cheryl Ntumy expressed concern about Africans' reluctance to tell their own stories; instead they give the West a chance to tell the world about Africa through their eyes. She added that as much as non-Africans continue to write 'our' tales, Africa will forever be a land of hunger, disease and war through the pages of these books.She also said there is lack of support towards upcoming writers from publishers. "If you don't have a name yet in the industry, you can't get published. You will be told to enter a writing competition first, and they don't even look at your manuscript," she said.

Sidiapelo Babish, an upcoming writer, said Batswana do not take writing seriously like they do other things. She said parents have a tendency of discouraging children who want to venture into the arts, as the sector is seen as incapable of creating an income. "But the arts can really contribute to the growth of the economy," she said.

Another young writer, Gothataone Moeng said the retreat was an eye opener as she can repackage Botswana history better from the experience. She said historic sites are an inspiration to any writer and they help with good story settings and plots.