09 Dec 2019

Mpho Mokgatle of Moshupa is Lucara Botswana jewellery competition winner.

He beat other 34 entrants in a competition that was opened by Lucara Botswana two months ago.

In an interview, Mokgatle, an ABM University marketing management graduate, said art was his first love hence he studied jewellery at Oodi College of Applied Arts.

To further improve his craft, he went to South Africa in 2016 as well as Italy on attachment.

His designs, he said, was inspired by Botswana basketry, especially those found in the North West District.

He said he was intrigued by the leselo and tlatlana hence his winning design was made from the two with specific detail of their use in the Setswana culture.

He commended Lucara for the opportunity and initiative and implored the company to give artists more exposure through such initiatives to grow the industry.

Lucara Canada chief executive officer, Eira Thomas noted that although the competition was a once-off initiative, her company was supportive of nurturing talent, adding  that their vision was to have more of such initiatives.

She said the winning design was a representation of Botswana, and that the jewellery piece would be auctioned after being modelled by some celebrity at one of the red carpet events.

Furthermore, Thomas said as part of their corporate social initiative, proceeds from the auction would go towards the construction of a school in the Letlhakane area.

The school initiative, she said, was part of their contribution to empower the Letlhakane community and ensure education sustainability in the area.

Lucara Botswana managing director, Naseem Lahri said the design would be manufactured by a local manufacturer agreed to by the promoter and designer, with Botswana diamonds.

She noted that the model celebrity for the jewellery piece as well as the red carpet event would be identified and announced at a later stage. Ends