Mophato Relays Botswana�s Untold Stories Through Dance
Ulla Setswalo | Monday October 26, 2015 18:00
On October 22, the much-awaited Triple Bill show was launched at Maitisong Theatre in Gaborone.
The youthful group of creative contemporary dancers started the show on a high note. As the theme states, ‘Embracing 49 Years of Botswana’s Untold Stories’, the first story that was showcased was Inyaya, which is the untold story of Segametsi Mogomotsi, who was murdered in Mochudi, and the strikes that occurred in 1994.
The magnificent piece was written and directed by Mophato Dance Theatre founder and director, Andrew Letso Kola. The group act took about 20 minutes and the audience could not help, but cheer the performers in excitement.
“The show was a success and we are happy about it, people loved it so much that we got a standing ovation,” Kola said.
Mogomotsi was a 14-year-old schoolgirl who was murdered, allegedly for ritual purposes.
The girl went missing a day before her body was found nude and mutilated. Her unfortunate death sparked protests by the students as well as the Mochudi community. The protests led to riots in Gaborone, prompting the government of Botswana to call in the Scotland Yard for assistance.
No one has been formally charged with the murder, and an official police report was conducted, but as of August 2012, the results had not yet been released.
This is a story that Kola holds close to his heart as he witnessed these adverse riots.
The murder inspired the story in Alexander McCall Smith’s novel The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.
During the performance, Kalima Mipata was the lead dancer with his vivacious and creative skill. A voice recording of former president, Sir Ketumile Masire as he addressed the public during the riots was played. Mophato dancers told the story clearly with their captivating dance moves.
The music on the background was heart-warming and well coordinated. It was a touching piece as the emotions expressed by the dancers really showed what transpired during those hard times to the audience.
Kulema was the second piece to be showcased and it was also a group act that was produced and directed by lead choreographer, Mipata. Kulema is a Zambian word meaning ‘heaviness’ or ‘burden’ as Mipata explained.
The piece that elucidates on realistic issues that have taken control of people’s lives was also performed in about 20 minutes.
Mipata choreographed the piece well and gave an amazing performance as usual.
He showed the audience why Kola chose him and believed in him. The audience was left in awe as Mipata kept them captivated, touched and on the edge of their seats with his flexibility and tenacity. According to Mipata, he wanted to tell the story of how people carry heaviness and burden on a daily basis without other people knowing what they are dealing with.
The showstopper was Wosana, which wrapped up the show. The piece is about the Kalanga rain dance that shed light on Botswana’s drought period.
The piece then went into a much more energetic and upbeat dance selection that had the audience cheering and screaming.
There were upbeat drumbeats and singing, making the show beautiful. It was thrilling to watch the passionate and artistic dancers. The female dancers showcased their versatile choreographic skill with beautiful dance moves that had the audience in amazement.
At the end of the show, the crew went on stage and gave a bow as the audience gave them a standing ovation accompanied by cheers, ululations and rounds of applauses. The master of ceremony, Thato Moruti asked the audience to interact with the crew and ask questions or give comments on the show so as to give them feedback and constructive criticism. This was the first time such an opportunity was given to both the dancers and audience.
Mascom chief communications and public relations officer, Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego addressed the audience as one of the sponsors.
“The untold stories are best told through dance and Mophato has managed to artistically relay them to the audience,” Lebotse-Sebego said.
She also expressed happiness that her children and others can now know more about these stories in a modern way as opposed to how they were told back then around the fire in the village by her grandmother.