18 Aug 2021

The devastating news of a new virus that put the world in a standstill and the consequent movement restrictions that Botswana deployed early last year resulted in the mushrooming of various content producers and comedians on social media platforms.

These creatives kept people entertained during the lockdown period when most had nothing to do except await developing news on COVID-19. Among young Batswana who showcased their creativity was Kidboy, who chose storytelling in Setswana through a laid back comedy approach that spoke to the masses. 

Born Kedibonye Basenyapelo, 32-years-ago in Molapowabojang, he saw an opportunity to share jokes with the rest of the world through the Facebook page KidBoy BASE Laughs, which currently boasts over 78 000 followers.

“Storytelling has been my thing for ages and these creative stories always make my inner circle laugh. I created this page during lockdown after I realised that people were going through a lot of stressful situations and anxiety was taking a toll on them. The intention was to make them have something to laugh about despite what was going on,” he explaines in an interview.

In order to be unique, he chose to write his jokes in vernacular as a way of promoting Setswana and making the language fashionable but also to encourage the culture of reading among young people.

He believes writing, as compared to visuals, creates curiosity on the identity of the author. He was also wise to read the tone of his audience when he coined the ‘Soo sa mometso’ slogan, which translates to the physical feeling that comes with heartbreaks, popularly common in love relationships.

Even though he tells hilarious fiction stories to a wide audience, his popularity has not influenced the core values that made him as a young man raised by his grandmother. 

The last born of seven siblings believes Botho is an integral part of a human being, hence he is cautious even when passing jokes.

“I was raised by my grandmother who passed on in February 2005. She remains my one true icon and I will forever be indebted to her. She raised me with five words ‘setho ke sengwe le sengwe’ and I will carry and live those words for the rest of my life”.

Even though his jokes are mostly fiction, the father of four makes mention of Magriza from time to time, as a way of paying tribute to the one person who nurtured him to adulthood. 

The attachment and bond between the two is visible in most of his stories, especially when the set-up takes him home after another ‘soo sa mometso’ episode.

His humility has also seen him playfully ridicule people born in 1974 every chance he gets, but in a creative and funny way that the intended audience do not take offence. 

Even though he is in his early 30s, he has associated himself with Ma74 such that even if he makes fun of their dress code, he comes across as one of their own.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Education from the University of Botswana, the aspiring young farmers started his teaching career at Lobatse before proceeding to Thamaga and Moshupa. However, he later quit to join the armed forces. It therefore does not come as a surprise that his content is more detailed when it features these two cadresEven though his content appeals to the masses, he also acknowledges that he needs to work towards catering for people living with disabilities who are unable to read. He is therefore considering expanding to visuals, provided it stays within his principles as a person and public officer. 

The growth of his project also comes with expectation for him to keep producing more content around various social issues while at the same time not being tone-deaf to topical issues. ends