Batswana among SA 100 celebrities

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday January 15, 2009 00:00

 

In one  of the December  editions  of popular  South African magazine  Drum, television actress Connie Ferguson and her husband and actor Shona, made it  to the top 100 celebrities' list.  The list also includes another Motswana showbiz icon, Thato Sikwane alias DJ Fresh.  Coming from a country where showbiz is in its infancy, the Botswana celebrities are proving that they can beat the South Africans in their own backyard. 

The top 100 celebrities are voted in by Drum readers and it is quite a competitive list which also includes international luminaries.  Some of the luminaries in the list include Manchester United pin up boy, Christiano Ronaldo who topped the list.  Other big names on the list include the United Sates TV personality and talk show host, Oprah Winfrey. 

Connie and DJ Fresh had made it to the Drum's top 100 celebrities list since its inception in 2005.  Shona started to appear on the prestigious list in 2007 and also made it last year.

Connie acts as Karabo Moroka in the popular SABC soapier, Generations.  She has been on the Generation set  since it started in1994.   Connie has also worked for the SABC as a continuity  presenter.

Her husband, Shona is acting in another SABC soapie, Muvhango, and another South African soap Scandal, which airs on etv.  

The celebrity  couple, Connie and Shona  graced the cover  page  of the June 2008 of South African magazine True Love, which also featured an article about them. 

Last year they were voted South Africa's couple of the year by another  magazine,  You.   Connie, who originates  from  Lobatse,  has also won a number  of acting  awards in South Africa. 

She is a former student  at Lobatse Secondary School which also produced the former Miss Universe, Mpule Kwelagobe. 

DJ Fresh has  taken South Africa by storm since he moved to that  country in the 90s.  Initially, he used to present a music  programme  on television.

DJ Fresh is working for a popular radio station in South Africa 5 FM where he is one of the most popular  radio DJs in South Africa.  He is also one of the much sought-  after DJs in Mzanzi. 

DJ Fresh has also been involved in community  projects in South Africa like sponsoring bursaries for students  from under privileged backgrounds. He has also released his own compilations  as a DJ and  is also running a  successful  entertainment  business.

A University of Botswana (UB) law student  drop out, DJ Fresh started with the local radio station, RB 2.  DJ Fresh has become an inspiration to many  youngsters in the country.  He has also not forgotten about his roots as he has been staging a number of shows in this home country.  

During the festive season he staged a show in Francistown.  DJ Fresh is the son of the former opposition politician  and motivational  speaker , Raphael Sikwane.  Although they originate  from northern  Botswana, DJ Fresh  went  to  school and grew  up in Gaborone.
The three Batswana showbiz personalities have always been making headlines in South Africa for the right reasons.  They are not known to court  controversy.

They are by every account worthy ambassadors for the country and role models  for the youth.