Bua Polelo show impresses
Kgomotso Molelekeng | Monday May 5, 2014 13:47
Bua Polelo a project, which aims at telling Setswana tales in drama format, had audiences mesmerised with their performance at Alliance Française on Friday.Although the turn-up for the show was not as good as expected the organisers of the show said that they were happy with the few that managed to come through.
Evidently those that came enjoyed the performance as they all went home with their faces beaming with happiness. One of the organisers Chloe Robert told Showtime that they planned to stage within three days and as an artist, she drew her various artworks and finished just in time for the show.
“When I got to Botswana, someone narrated the story of Matsieng to me and I found it very interesting. So I decided to base my art on it. But in my work, people will realise that I have not portrayed Matsieng as the evil giant, but as a sweet loving monster who is friends with everyone,” she said.
She added that the project came about as a desire to associate different artistic mediums in one realisation, which gathers several nationalities and personalities. “We wanted to make a show that Batswana will remember for a long time. As you witnessed we had storytellers who are Katlego Mantswe and Godfrey Moeng who’s a poet.
As they narrated different stories to the audience, Mantswe and Moeng played the music which had a strong traditional feel to it,” she said. The story, which was told from the view of Mamanthwane, the bat, had many wishing that it did not end.
Katlego K Kol who displayed his vocal prowess while narrating the story performed the character of the bat beautifully. Incorporating pre-existing Setswana tales, the crew managed to create new songs that addressed the themes of road safety, love, bullying, tolerance and community.
Robert said: “Through Bua Polelo, they drive the message of unity in Botswana and mostly the celebration of culture and nationhood.” Robert who is visiting Botswana for only two weeks said she has thus far been to different villages, which hold a strong past of how Batswana used to live and was very amused by what she saw. “My favourite place was Mochudi where I managed to see the foot of my favourite giant Matsieng. I believe Botswana has a lot to offer in terms of traditional myths and as I return home I am prepared to share my experience with people back home that are fascinated by African countries like me,” she said.