Totang Motoloki finished second and received P20,000, while Lesedi Segobye won third place and P10,000. The awards were held on Thursday evening under the theme “A Canvas Under the Stars”, with the main competition themed “Celebrating Botswana’s Culture and Heritage” as the country marks 60 years of independence. Speaking at the occasion, Nando’s Botswana Group General Manager, Challenge Nhamoyebonde said the 405 entries included close to 100 from artists outside Botswana.
The top 10 finalists also took part in a four-day workshop facilitated by Nando’s partners, Spier Arts Trust and Thapong Visual Arts Centre. Nhamoyebonde explianed the initiative was intended to give artists more than a once-off prize, with the exposure potentially opening further opportunities. He also said Nando’s global art partner, Spier Arts Trust, has more than 28,000 artworks across the company’s restaurants worldwide. For his part, Spier Arts Trust Chief Curator Tamlin Blake said artist development should go beyond cash prizes, with artists also needing practical skills, knowledge of the business side of art, professional networks and opportunities to experiment. “The lasting impact of meaningful support is not simply rewarding artists with money, but helping to create value,” Blake added. Thapong Visual Arts Centre board member and judge Keatlaretse Kwati said selecting the top three was difficult from the 405 entries. She encouraged artists to view competitions as opportunities for learning, networking and feedback, rather than measuring their progress only through prizes. The ceremony also introduced the Nando’s Creative Futures Art Competition for young artists aged 13 to 17.
