20 Jun 2018

In today’s world where there is pressure to follow modern trends, it is promising to see a young person who is keen on safeguarding their indigenous language.

This arises from the fact that despite parents speaking the indigenous language, often they do not pass it on to their children thereby resulting in linguistic erosion.

However, Thamaga-born Ogorogile Kelebile dubbed Modubathankga, who is a Setswana poet, is not perturbed by the modern influence thereby giving hope to many when it comes to protection of cultural identity and traditional values.

 Modubathankga says he has been nurturing his poetry since 2013 and that with time he has been able to perfect his craft aided by his audience to ensure his eloquence in Setswana.

To ensure continuity of Setswana poetry, he has volunteered to impart and mentor aspiring Magalatladi Primary School pupils in Thamaga and other young people as a way of saving the Setswana language.

The 24-year-old has performed in various events including independence celebrations, which he says gave him the much-needed exposure.

“From the Bot50 activities performance, I was invited to a number of activities.  I later performed at Thamaga Culture Day, Botswana Swedish Poetry Exchange amongst others,” he explains.

While he has tried his luck in a number of competitions he describes the DTVET poetry challenge as a milestone, saying he was able to emerge a winner beating over 50 other contestants contending to perform at the DTVET graduation ceremony.

“Though I did not win in other competitions such as the President’s Day competitions which I entered twice, I acquired experience and the know-how of what is expected,” says Modubathankga.

To perfect his craft, Modubathankga often attends workshops and training to learn from others and to equip himself with the relevant skills and knowledge.

He says from his recent artistic training workshop, the facilitator offered him an all-expenses-paid trip to attend another artistic training workshop in Durban in August. Internationally, Modubathankga has made his debut performance in May under Maruping Poetry where they performed at Livingstone International Culture and Arts Festival in Zambia.

He intends to publish a book of his Setswana poetry compositions together with an audio book catering for individuals and those at school.

He further says he plans to enroll in a creative performance course as he is good at traditional dance and song as well as drama, thereby working towards saving for tuition fees and hopes for possible scholarship in the process.

In conclusion, he advises young people to use their God-given talent, to nurture and enhance the idea that talent is a mark imprinted in people. ENDs