Botswana's Seametso wins Mister Friendship International Africa

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Wednesday December 17, 2025 06:00

This achievement marks a significant milestone for Botswana, as it is the country's first-ever participation in the pageant and the continent's first official placement on this international stage.

Seametso, who will be turning 31 on December 25, expressed his gratitude for the support he received from fellow contestants, the Mr Botswana team and his family.

'My international pageantry journey was coupled with a lot of emotions, what stood out the most for me was the warmth and love I received from nations such as Mexico, Spain, Jamaica, Nigeria, Poland, Philippines, Malaysia, and all other countries that participated in this competition,' he said.

The Mister Friendship International Africa title is a testament to Seametso's exceptional leadership, empathy, and commitment to promoting unity and cultural understanding.

His victory is not only a personal triumph but also a continental milestone, affirming Africa's rightful place in the global conversation.

'I have learnt the importance and value of being unique and embodying authenticity and staying true to what you believe in,' Seametso said, reflecting on his experience at the pageant.

'We are currently faced with a new pandemic of the imposter syndrome, where we feel like we are not deserving of certain platforms and accolades. I have reiteratively learned what it means to be bold in your own skin, and that is what got me this far.'

As Mister Friendship International Africa, he will be working on a project titled Monalentle, which aims to promote cultural and religious norms, values, and beliefs that have contributed to building habitable communities.

The project also seeks to eradicate toxic societal division and dysfunction, which have contributed to social ills such as gender-based violence, rape, suicide and deteriorating mental health.

One of the key initiatives of the project is the ‘I AM HIM’ campaign, a structured identity-based pipeline designed to nurture boys and men into holistic, positive, and purpose-driven leaders.

The project will also introduce a hygiene-based haircut, which will be freely accessible to all boys and girls at Seepapitso Senior School, with plans to roll it out to all schools in Botswana

Seametso's win is a testament to Botswana's growing presence on the global stage, and his project is expected to make a significant impact in promoting social advocacy and community development.

'We need all the support that we can possibly get for proper execution of our social advocacy projects,' Seametso said, calling on private and parastatal entities to support the creatives.

'I have seen how some parastatals have actually come on board to support the creatives, I wish more private and parastatal entities could come on board to support what we do.'

The triumph is also a source of pride for Botswana, and his reign as Mister Friendship International Africa is expected to inspire a new generation of leaders and changemakers.