13 Mar 2015

The field of writing the Setswana language has evolved immensely since the early 19^th century when British missionaries of the Christian Congregational persuasion led the early development of Tswana orthography.

Robert Moffat, who lived among the Batlhaping at Kuruman, published Bechuana Spelling Book and A Bechuana Catechism in 1826, and eventually published a complete Setswana translation of the Bible in 1857.

Thereafter several authors, notably the South African Tswana author Solomon Tshekisho Plaatjie further developed the art of writing Setswana, and in post-independence Botswana, the likes of Moabi Kitchin, Mae Johnson and Kgomotso Mogapi among others contributed to the development of written Setswana.

But in recent years, the field of writing Setswana seems to have been lost on the younger generation, who in seem more enticed by writing and reading the English language, though most seem more conversant with spoken Setswana.

Botshelo Leotwana by Meshack Loveness Koobuse is thus a refreshing departure from the modern norm; a young Motswana author has chosen to write fiction in the national language.

The 48-page novel, published by Jaboyonko Artworks derives its title from the Setswana expression botshelo leotwana le a dikologa, literally ‘life, like a wheel, turns,’ figuratively meaning circumstances in life change; if things are going right for you, do not think that will always be the case.

The greatest thing about Koobuse is the ability to use the language in an enticing, reader-friendly way, being catchy right from the very first sentence…

Mosetsana yo o ne a tla a tsamaisa maoto sekgarebe, a phatlaladitse diatla o kare phikoko ya monna e bona ya mosadi (the girl came walking in a fashionable, lady-like manner, her hands spread around like a male peacock catching the sight of a female).

The storyline is centred on two fictional characters; MmaKgalalelo, an employee at Debswana Jwaneng Mine, and her partner RaKgalalelo a councilor for Moiyabana ward.

Their wealth made them pompous, and their pride was well know to fellow villagers, every weekend they would travel in their luxury vehicle to a hotel in Mahalapye, their child not allowed to play with children of the poor.

The storyline details the challenges they would face; the marital home would be in crisis as RaKgalalelo developed a blossoming romance with another lady, Ogomoditse.

Koobuse uses salient imagery to describe the mood…

“Letsatsi le ne le setse le ntsheditse marang a lone kwa ntle.  Pheswana e kwa ntle le yone e le tsiditshana.  Borabiibii bone ba le mo letlepung.  Ka nako e MmaKgalalelo a bo a ntse kwa ntle ga ntlo e ya bone e tonatona.  O ne a kgoberegile mo maikutlong ke monna wa gagwe ka fa a mo tsayang ka nteng…”

“The sun had let out its rays.  The wind outside was cool. The birds were having plentiful.  At that time MmaKgalalelo was sitting outside their big house.  She was dejected by the way her husband treats her…”

But in the end, RaKgalalelo’s arrogance lands him in trouble; loan agency CEDA repossess his property and expensive car, while Ogomoditse starts an affair with a gentleman in the construction industry.

A well-written book, presented in a reader-friendly manner, Botshelo Leotwana is worth reading.  The negatives- a few spelling mistakes and some sentences being too short- still do not negate from the fact that Koobuse came up with a good storyline and a writing style that is able to captivate the reader from the beginning to the end. ENDS