08 Apr 2018

A versatile performer, Moduduetso Lecoge says she will bring back on stage part two of A Woman of Many Firsts.

In an interview, Lecoge said this year’s play will be bigger, better and bolder with an additional one hour version at the Maitisong festival at Moving Space (Maru-a-Pula School) on April 13.

Through A Woman of Many Firsts Lecoge tells the tale about her grandmother, Dr Gaositwe Chiepe, whom she said had created a legacy by being grounded on selflessness, respect and tenacity; characteristics of a typical Motswana.

In the play, Lecoge narrates how her grandmother grew up in Serowe, the same village where Botswana’s founding President Sir Seretse Khama came from.

She said her grandmother’s life had illustrated an extraordinary life of national service to both the educational and political environment in Botswana.

Being the first Motswana female to attain a master’s degree in the 1950s as well as Member of Parliament and only female in the Cabinet, she said she was then motivated to bring her grandmother’s story to the public in writing and acting it out on a theatre stage.

Lecoge, a graduate from the University of Botswana with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre Arts) said there were many untold stories about African women who had contributed immensely to national service.

Thus, in 2016, during the Maitisong Festival, Lecoge premiered Part one of A Woman of Many Firsts play, a story that chronicled Dr Chiepe from her childhood as a young Motswana woman to her climbing ranks educationally and politically.

“The play tracks her education path through secondary school at the prestigious TigerKloof College in South Africa during the apartheid era, her proceeding thereafter to Fort Hare University where she was the first black African woman to graduate with a Master’s Degree in Zoology and Botany,” she said.

The play, she said also illustrated her grandmother’s career in education, administration, diplomatic service and politics which spun over five decades from 1948-1999 were she climbed ranks of many firsts during her time.

“Botswana needs to know a bit more about this icon during her life. She has achieved a lot of firsts as a young girl, as a working woman and in politics hence the title of the play,” she said, explaining the reason behind the title of the play.

She also said her grandmother’s legacy and character needed to be emulated by young Batswana women as well as Africa so they could be the best they could.

The play will also show on April 14 at 6pm as well as April 15 at 4pm. Ends