For over a decade and a half, Bakwena have gathered annually to celebrate their culture and roots in a grand event. This inward-facing celebration also offers a chance for people from other backgrounds to learn about the tribe’s traditions.
For the first time, the 2024 Dithubaruba Cultural Festival will feature an emerging theatrical production designed to captivate audiences with its compelling narrative and cultural relevance. “Motswasele II,” a historical drama written by the esteemed playwright and poet Leetile Disang ‘L.D.’ Raditladi will take center stage thanks to the efforts of the Wame Waves production company.
This production not only highlights the talent and creativity of its creators but also serves as a tribute to cultural preservation and education, weaving together a rich tapestry of history, tradition, and human experience.
At the core of “Motswasele II” lies a compelling exploration of power dynamics, leadership, loyalty, betrayal, and the ethical dilemmas that accompany authority. Through the story of Kgosi Motswasele II – father to Kgosi Sechele I – the play delves into the complexities of leadership, shedding light on the consequences of tyranny, greed, and the penalties of refusing to rightfully seek noble counsel.
The story of the iron-fisted ruler whose power-drunken myopic reign contravened the norms of his people – fondly known to be ‘batho ba morero’ – bears the gravitas of lore and fictions spun by bards of yesteryear. Set against the backdrop of chieftaincy, the performance work offers a poignant reflection on timeless themes of the human condition, as well as the individual and collective societal impact of power.
The production team behind “Motswasele II” comprises a talented ensemble of individuals dedicated to bringing Raditladi’s vision to life. Led by director Thomas Mpoeleng and executive producer Ishmael Wame Komanyane, the team includes choreographer Kaone Ramasu, videographer Mpho Dintwa of Box Screen Pictures, costume designer Venessah Molosiwa, and Mpho Odubeng handling project management. Working alongside Kealeboga Ramothwa, Lefika Senome, Moremedi Moremedi and Thapelo Baretogetse, their coordinated efforts seek to birth a Broadway-style production right in the village of Molepolole.
Komanyane, who is also the Managing Director of Wame Waves, shares that in undertaking the project “one of the most significant aspects of our adaptation of “Motswasele II” has been our commitment to educating the public about the man and his people while also preserving the cultural relevance of the original work”.
By staying true to Raditladi’s original play text, the production honours Botswana’s literary heritage – having been originally published in 1945 as part of the esteemed Black Writers Series by Macmillan and later prescribed as a senior secondary school set work – while also giving it fresh legs to run another 80 years or more. Moreover, as Wame Waves is in the business of visual storytelling, the decision to create a filmed rendition of the production under Komanyane’s guidance shows a dedication to extending the play’s cultural impact beyond national borders, inviting viewers from around the world to engage with Botswana from a different angle on her creatives’ terms.
Raditladi’s play immortalises the reign of Kgosi Motswasele II in a nuanced manner, shedding light on a crucial chapter of Botswana’s precolonial history that might otherwise be forgotten. Written entirely in Setswana, this effort of linguistic diplomacy is the forebearer of the Afrocentric renaissance of the 21st century in popular entertainment.
Not only is the text rich with Setswana proverbs, idioms, and expressions, but the production keeps the language vibrant and relevant, ensuring that oral traditions are passed down to future generations. Furthermore, “Motswasele II” offers a window into the social structures of Bakwena among other Batswana, highlighting the roles and responsibilities of different members of society, from chiefs to elders and commoners.
As the first theatrical production from Wame Waves, “Motswasele II” marks the beginning of a new adventure in Botswana’s theatrical landscape. The cast, many of whom bring over a decade of experience in the performing arts, infuse the production with a wealth of talent and expertise, promising a transformative theatrical experience for audiences. Having already been deemed fit for the young readership, the play serves entertainment whilst also enlightening audiences, fostering a deeper understanding of Botswana’s cultural heritage.
The cast tasked with premiering this novel feat on the 6th of September at the Dithubaruba Cultural Festival has Lesego Madingwane portraying the titular character. Joseph Seipei portrays Senese of Matlhalerwa, Mex Butana plays Molotlhanyi – Motswasele’s counsel, while Kabalano Sebetso and Mompati Molelowakgotla respectively embody the chief’s deceitful younger brother and cousin, Segokotlo and Moruakgomo.
The 19 actors have among them members of the renowned Kwena Madiba traditional dance group from Molepolole, whose performance skills have previously shone on stages of presidential merit. It is this ensemble that will charge Molepolole’s air with electrifying energy before the festival’s 17th year is declared officially opened the following day; as such, those in the audience will be set apart as aficionados of culture and arts beyond the country’s norms. Komanyane also affirms that this debut will lead to more local showcases of the production down the line.
By taking on a text that is a mere 21 years shy of a centenary, it is Wame Waves’ way of bearing testament to the staying power of rousing storytelling. This contribution to preserving cultural heritage, educating audiences, and sparking dialogue on timeless themes of leadership, loyalty, and humanness furthermore takes a creative spin on the campaign to change Batswana’s mindsets. It is American Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Pearl S. Buck that said: “if you want to understand today you must search yesterday”, and German poet, Herman Hesse who reflected that “to study history means submitting yourself to chaos, but nevertheless retaining your faith in order and meaning”. In these two wisdoms lies the relevance of bringing L.D.
Raditladi’s record of the historical legacy of Motswasele II and Bakwena from the page to the stage through new eyes, inviting viewers on a journey of discovery and reflection. As the proverbial curtain rises on what may be a theatrical masterpiece, the cultural tapestry of Botswana unfurls, weaving together past and present in a vibrant celebration of heritage and tradition.
