17 Jan 2024

Botswana’s award winning author, Dr Lesedi Gaeemelwe of the book, Little Ngwana Stories have been nominated for the prestigious Forty under 40 awards under the category; Authorship & Creative Writing. 

In an interview with BOPA, she said she learnt about the nomination process on Facebook towards the end of 2023 and she decided to submit her name. 

“I submitted all my company, entrepreneurial and community work documents and waited in hope for the nomination,” she said. 

Dr Gaeemelwe believed that she was the right candidate for the award, pointing to her impressive accolades as evidence. 

She emphasised that her book had made a significant impact not only in her community, but also on a global scale. Last year, Little Ngwana Stories was approved by a provincial government in South Africa for use in schools during the academic year 2024/25. 

Forty under 40 Africa is dedicated to identifying, honouring, and celebrating young business leaders who demonstrate a commitment to business growth, professional excellence, and community service. 

“It seeks to recognise individuals who have made remarkable strides in their respective industries at a relatively young age,” she said. 

It is no doubt that she has been nominated for the creative award. 

In 2022, Dr Gaeemelwe was bestowed with an honorary doctorate from the International Internship University in India in recognition of her book, which has already garnered two awards. 

Also in 2022, she got the Best Children’s Book category award at the Mulher Forte African Literature Award, in Gaborone and is also the African Honoree Award, which she won in 2021. 

“I also won the PANAFES Excellence Award in 2022, the Botswana Literature Award in 2023 and Image Magazine Personality of the Year award in 2023. I have also written several poetry pieces that are gracing international anthologies,” she said. 

Dr Gaeemelwe’s decision to submit her name for nomination  for this distinguished award proves her ambition and determination to excel in her professional endeavours. 

Should she win this award, she added that the achievement would expose her to more opportunities to reach more children through her literary work to promote literacy in children and combat various life issues. 

Dr Gaeemelwe urged Batswana to vote for her, which voting is closing on February 27. 

“Voting is done online at https://fortyunder40africa.com/vote at a cost of P7 per vote and multiple votes are allowed,” she stated. 

As a word to authors who wishto be in the space where she is in life, she advised that they should make sure that what they write about something purposeful. 

She also spoke about the importance of being humble in the process. 

“My Pastor, Rev. Dr Johannes Kgwarapi advised me to stay humble, so I regularly study about humility because it’s a very deep topic I wish to learn more about,” she concluded. ENDS