Local writers thrown lifeline

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Tuesday July 24, 2007 00:00

According to Mary Lederer of the Bessie Head Committee, the publishers would consider all the entries of the Bessie Head Literature Awards, including those that did not get the nod for publishing. Meanwhile, the winner of this year's novel category is Khonani Ontebetse, of The Mirror newspaper. Runners-up are Kelebogile Itshekeng, Mikeekaeel Siphambili, and Galeboe Mareledi Kefalotse.

'I am thankful for the opportunity that both Pentagon and the Bessie Head Committee have availed us to hone our writing skills,' an ecstatic Ontebetse said in Gaborone yesterday.

Ontebetse's script, Born With a Husband, which discusses arranged marriage, won him P1, 500 in prize money.

Bontekanye Otumile, the author of the well-received children's book, Tlou: The Elephant Story, won first prize in the short-story writing category. Runners-up are Grace Soko, and freelance journalist Arnold Letsholo.

The 2005 Author of the Year Award winner, Monty Fanakiso Moswela, clinched first prize (P 500) in the poetry section. His runners-up are Tjwangwa Dema, the well-known performance poet and writer, and Nicholas Keitshokile.

Moswela's winning poem is called Meeting in Francistown.

'I entered three poems namely, The Village Gathering, Village of Whirl Winds, and the winning poem. I already have a large collection of poems and hope to publish an anthology soon,' said Moswela.

According to Ray Seeletso of Pentagon Publishers, the competition will be held annually and those who submit publishable scripts stand a chance of being published under the newly established 'Bessie Head Series'.