17 Aug 2023

In a quest to celebrate and stimulate interest in the works of Botswana writers, the Gaborone Book Festival (GBF) has embarked on a programme that features local authors on its monthly sessions coined Book Afternoons.

Following the successful engagement with author and poet, TJ Dema last month, GBF will tomorrow host the author of Call and Response, Gothataone Moeng at the Little Theatre in the National Museum. 

Call and Response is a short story collection about the ordinary lives of Batswana which embodies tradition and relationships, among others, as they navigate the dynamics of the modern world. 

The stories were set in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone as well as the author’s home village, Serowe.

The book was published earlier this year.

Moeng’s participation was confirmed by GBF co-founder Kenanao Phele who stated that the author’s new work had been widely acclaimed in the literary world ‘in Africa and elsewhere’. 

Phele noted that the Book Afternoon sessions, which would continue throughout the year, were not only intended to create interactive platforms for authors and readers, but also to ignite dialogue on the general literary work of the featured authors. 

She said this would also expose the authors to wider markets hence creating demand for their books within the local audiences and beyond.

Additionally, she said, this year they had already reached at least 2 000 pupils through their Read Aloud campaign, whose objective was to promote reading among children. 

She said they anticipated to continue the programme soon, after it was halted during the winter season. Ends