09 Aug 2015

Going by his excellent performance in Setswana at both primary and secondary school, writing in the language is a passion and talent for Tumo Kenosi.

The 33-year-old Maun native has authored a 33-page Setswana novel titled Monate Ga O Fele, which will be launched at Laphroaig Chalets in Maun this Thursday.

Kenosi says he chose to write in the local language because he realised that young people are losing touch with Setswana.  He says that his language choice was also aimed at ensuring that his message reaches his audience, especially school-going youth.

He has been working on Monate Ga O Fele, his first novel, since 2003.  The printing of the book was funded by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture to the tune of P20 000. Kenosi is a multi-talented man. 

He is also a footballer, a motivation speaker, a hip hop artiste signed to the Maun Brand group, a welder and a builder.  He says that he quit his job as a safari lodge manager two years ago to focus on his art.

 He is also working on two other Setswana novels.

Monate Ga O Fele is a story of three secondary school students in Maun who are lured into crime by their former school mate who works with a filthy rich Bro Mod. 

The latter uses young people to rob people and institutions. 

The students end up faced with imprisonment with their girlfriends expelled from school over disobeying school regulations.

Kenosi says the moral of the novel is that young people should focus on education. 

He says that when young people juggle fun with school, they drop out of school, abuse drug and alcohol and run the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Ends