Africa-Press – Botswana. While the proliferation of foreign languages such as English, French and Mandarin continues to erode the use of local languages due to the fact that they are perceived as prestigious, some African writers continue to promote local languages.
One such writer, Lemogang Mogotsi, continues to dazzle as an African Writer and gets recognition through awards in recognition of her relentless contribution to the promotion of Setswana.
Recently she bagged an award from the African Writers Tribe as the Author of the Year under Children’s Books category.
In an interview, Ms Mogotsi said it was an honour for her to receive such a magnanimous award that recognised her contribution to local language promotion.
She said her focus on children came after she realised that local languages, especially Setswana as a national language, were being ‘extinguished’ by English so much that the young ones did not know the language as schools often emphasised the use of English in their premises.
Ms Mogotsi said she then formed Dinaletsana tsa Botswana Children’s Writing Alliance academy, which gave children an opportunity to learn Setswana.
She introduces children to diane, manatetshapuo, maele and traditional games that ease the learning of the colloquial language.
Ms Mogotsi said she was motivated by the zeal of the young pupils to learn and an immense interest in knowing names of places, Setswana utensils and other parts of their mother tongue.
She is grateful for Power Kawina, Kgosi Sechele I Museum curator, who always avails space for to conduct lessons at the museum.
She hastened to praise legendary authors among them Michael Kelaotswe who published Setswana books such as Botshelo Teemane, Matlhola a di Bona and Mmutla wa Gae ga o Lobelo together with his counterpart, Solomon Mokgachane, who published Tsela Kgopo, Teko Tlhaloganyo and Tsela Pedi for inspiring her to become a writer.
She showered them with accolades for their instinct writing skills that opened a door for Batswana students by laying bare the ups and downs of life through their published works.
In 2019 she won an award in the World Bookday Manuscript Competition under Botswana National Reference Library when her Setswana script, Disaitsaneng di a Welana got position one.
So far she has five awards under her belt and as the managing director of Dinaletsana tsa Botswana Children’s Writing Alliance, she is dedicated to reviving, preserving and conserving Botswana’s rich cultural heritage among young people, especially primary school children.
“Over the past 16 years I have written and published Setswana children’s books, one of which has been prescribed by the government as literature for Standard Seven Pupils”.
Over and above that, Mogotsi has initiated a story-telling group, which has had the opportunity to recite poems at University of Botswana during the commemoration of International Mother Tongue Day.
Her book Phala wa Kgosing won an African Honouree Authors Award in South Africa, last year and has been nominated for the African Literary Summit Award in Nigeria.
She also received a Botswana Literary Heritage award from the She Millionaire 2024 in South Africa and the best Setswana Children’s Author award at the 2024 Botswana Literature Awards.
Mogotsi said she remained passionate about inspiring young readers and writers. She thus volunteers at public libraries where she engages children on reading and storytelling sessions to nurture future authors and identify poetic talents.
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