12 Dec 2023

A book by a local author has been approved by a provincial government in South Africa for use in schools during the academic year 2024/2025.

Little Ngwana Stories, a book by Motswana author, Dr. Lesedi Gaeemelwe, has won the approval of the Gauteng Education Department.  

Dr Gaeemelwe told BOPA that her children’s book was endorsed by the Gauteng Education Department in April.

She said the book had received several accolades, including the African Honoree Authors Award in 2021, Mulher Forte African Literature Award in 2022, PANAFES Excellence Award in 2022, Botswana Literature Award in 2023 and Image Magazine Personality Award in 2023.

Dr Gaeemelwe disclosed that both the English version and Setswana translation of the book would be available in public school libraries across the Gauteng province, which had a large population of Setswana speakers.  

Little Ngwana Stories came out in 2020.

She said the approval the book had received in South Africa was a significant milestone for her.

“My goal is to make creative and entertaining stories accessible to children worldwide to help them become well-rounded members of society,” she stated. ENDS