Why is all art in Botswana good? :: Mmegi Online

Botswana is a tiny little country with a tiny little population and an even tinier artistic community. I’ve thought for a long time that because of that, and given the fact that most of our artists are struggling to keep their heads above water, that maybe there was no room for proper criticism.

Every supposed review of some creation— be it a sculpture, a book, a song, a poem— is full of positive hyperbole. There is no bad art in Botswana. Everything is beautiful. It’s as if we have been drinking from the spiked grape Kool-aid.

I’ll admit I’m part of the problem. I decided some time ago that here in this column as well as on my blog and other venues, if I didn’t like a book written by a Motswana, or for that fact an African writer, I would not mention it. I would only do reviews of books I could honestly recommend, books I liked.

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Why is all art in Botswana good?

Botswana is a tiny little country with a tiny little population and an even tinier artistic community. I’ve thought for a long time that because of that, and given the fact that most of our artists are struggling to keep their heads above water, that maybe there was no room for proper criticism.

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