20 Jun 2024

Kgangkgolo, a musical play, recently debuted at Mantlwaneng Theatre to a standing ovation.

The play features a beautifully composed piece called Eseng mo ngwaneng, a tag line coined by First Lady, Neo Masisi in her efforts to fight child abuse plaguing the country. 

The play which stars, Clever Bafisi, who is the play writer, Lame Leroy and many others tackles the issue of child abuse and gender based violence (GBV) in a true theatrical opera drama. 

It features Sebe who is brought before a kgotla to answer to an accusation of molesting an under-age child.  Sebe is made answerable to men in the village who want to beat him for what he did. The kgotla found him guilty. 

“The play also teaches audiences the dangers of indifference to sexual abuse compelling them to re-examine traditions, culture, and custom and speak out against such injustices,” said Bafisi in an interview. 

Bafisi said that Kgangkgolo’s riveting narrative and outstanding performances were intended to also stimulate conversations and raise awareness about the prevalence of child abuse in society and the urgent need for continuous action to protect children hence the theme: E Seng mo Ngwnaneng.  

He further said the inclusion of Kgotla set-up in the production was to remind people of the essence of bogosi in traditional communities, and how traditional leaders have always been at the forefront of addressing and finding mutually acceptable solutions to pressing issues such as abuse.  Bafisi further said that the traditional set-up was also to encourage communities to trust their traditional leaders in their attempt to address such issues, as well as to restore old methods of resolving issues. 

Musical theatre is a place where extremes are the norm, be it tragedy or comedy but a musical which features 90 per cent Setswana operatic songs was truly a marvel to watch.

After the show’s two hours were over, the audience, impressed by the performance,  leapt to their feet and gave the cast a standing ovation. Ends