24 Jun 2025

With over 25 television hits under her belt, including Mpho le Mphonyana, Beauty and Botshelo Jo, Afentse Lekolwane is a name synonymous with ground-breaking television in Botswana. 

Now, the seasoned television mogul is charting new territory, venturing into the world of wildlife and documentary filmmaking with her award-winning documentary pitch Sacred Nuisance.  Lekolwane recently made her mark at the prestigious Wildscreen Festival, held on June 13 in Maun, where she was one of six filmmakers selected to pitch their wildlife concepts. She emerged as the judges’ favourite, walking away with P54 393 (£3000) in prize money. But wildlife and documentary storytelling weren’t exactly on her radar at the start of the year. 

“At the beginning of the year, this was not part of the plan. But when the opportunity came, I did not let self-doubt block me,” Lekolwane shared.

Although she acknowledged her lack of experience as a wildlife storyteller, she emphasised, ‘I am a writer, and this was a story I knew I could write. So, I grabbed the opportunity.’ 

Set to be filmed in Mochudi, Sacred Nuisance explores the ancient African system of totemic belief and how it contributes to wildlife conservation. The film highlights the paradox of the deep spiritual reverence held by the Bakgatla for the vervet monkey, a highly intelligent primate, despite the daily challenges they face due to its mischievous behaviour. 

“In my opinion, as Batswana, we do not view animals the same way tourists do. “To us, animals are sacred, and we have strong spiritual affiliations with them. We take deep pride in those connections,” said Lekolwane.

Reflecting on her experience as a daughter-in-law of Bakgatla family, whose totem is the vervet monkey, Lekolwane said ‘no matter how much of a menace I thought the animal was, my in-laws and other Bakgatla always found humour in its antics, choosing to laugh instead of showing disrespect. That’s where the name Sacred Nuisance comes from.’  Although wildlife documentary is a new genre for her, Lekolwane is bringing her signature strength to the project, humor, a rare element in traditional nature documentaries. 

“Viewers are going to laugh from beginning to end, thanks in large part to the monkeys’ effortless comedic timing,” she joked. 

The film will follow the monkeys’ daily route: from the Mochudi hills, down to their invasion of the local market, on to a nearby dam for a midday splash, and then their infamous lunchtime ambush at the hospital, where they scavenge treats brought by loved ones. After dining, they retreat to their natural habitat. 

“Expect laughs and be prepared to be entertained , it is going to be a rib-cracker,” she promised. 

Lekolwane’s project is receiving business, legal, and production support from Botswana Ignite, and she will also benefit from a 12-month mentorship to help bring her story to global screens. ENDS