Mmatla Kgwana, the play performed by Maranyane Training Institute, about a sexually abusive uncle who preys on his nieces won the 2008 BOTA/DCY HIV & AIDS Drama Competition finals held at Maitisong on Friday.
Maranyane performed against Lobatse Brigades, Gaborone Technical College and Mega Size College that bested other public and private vocational institutes.
Following this year’s theme, An HIV & AIDS orphan: A Victim and a Survivor. I care, the play, which follows the story of four children orphaned by AIDS, shows the sadistic abuse their uncle, John, delightfully doles out, switching off the lights while his nephew studies and calling his older sister, Tshego back on her way to school to make him a cup of tea and sexually abusing her. The incestuous uncle, who is also HIV positive, is jailed after his wife allows the children to report John to the police.
John Marumo, who plays the loathsome uncle, won the best actor award in his group, alongside best actress, Tshegofatso Kgosidintsi, who played Tshego, his niece.
Marumo also accepted the awards of best director of the play and best script.
Lobatse Brigade’s Thato Goitsemodimo, who played an orphan with ambitions of being a kwaito star, scooped overall best actor. His character, Mosquito, is an angst driven young man, abandoned by his cowardly uncle, when village gossip over the cause of his parents’ death reaches a climax, in the play titled All you need is love.
Serufeng Modise, from Mega Size, won overall best actress by portraying Segakweng, a sweet old woman who turns into an angry, hateful, seething battle-axe woman towards her granddaughter once her husband turns his back in a play titled, …Eseng ke Tshela. Withdrawing the young girl’s ARV medication and ordering her to take off her school uniform and empty books from the satchel she (Sekwabeng) bought with her hard earned cash.
The best actor and actress both won P5000 scholarships. The best script won P1000.
Gaborone Technical College’s story, Tswai la tampa se, directed by Gabriel Modise, depicted uncle Eskariotha’s abuse of his nieces and nephew who he had vowed to take good care of.
Adjudicator, Daniel Mogami, giving an explanation of how judging was carried out, said that the actors where judged on how they made their vocal choices, physical technique, using appropriate energy. The directing of plays was judged on the blocking of actors on stage, the story, its pace and the crisis and climaxes, said Mogami, adding that the script was judged on its cast, directions and dialogue.
Matlhaka Mmapatsi, representing the Botswana Training Authority (BOTA) CEO, Abel Modungwa, said, “BOTA began its mainstreaming of HIV & AIDS issues into the vocational training sector in 2002 with the support of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ).”
Mmapatsi said drama has been used as one of the methodologies to deliver the unit standards based on the HIV and AIDS curriculum and that the drama competition has been running annually since 2003.
“This year, the department of Culture and Youth are our major partner and major co-sponsor of the event.”
Mmapatsi also said that BOTA are grateful for their traditional sponsor the German Development Services (DED) who have remained in support up to this day.
Kelebogile Kgabi, Director of National Archives and Records Services, opened the event speaking on the theme of the plays saying, “Every nation in the world depends on its young and Botswana is no exception! For this reason, it is incumbent upon us to exploit every opportunity that avails itself to nurture and support our youth as a way of aiding them to become responsible and independent adults of tomorrow.”
