08 Oct 2026

Local production company, Flave Productions, trading as Botswood Studios, hosted an exclusive media preview screening of its latest feature film, Anafiki, ahead of its upcoming public release.

The biographical drama chronicles the life and musical journey of the iconic visually impaired keyboardist and songwriter, Anafiki Ditau, best known for her signature hit Mpolelele Re Babedi.

Produced by Thabiso Ranthoyakgale and directed by Afentse Lekolwane, the film explores Ditau’s artistic legacy, highlights Bakgatla culture and traditions and promotes messages of resilience and self-reliance among youth.

The preview showcased several notable production choices, including a casting decision that set a new precedent for inclusivity in the film industry.

Rather than using sighted actors, the production cast visually impaired youth from the Pudulogong Resource Centre to fill key roles, including the young portrayal of Ditau.

To facilitate the production, Lekolwane adapted standard directorial methods to accommodate a visually impaired cast, developing tailored communication and guidance strategies on set.

“Almost all our actors from the young Anafiki are completely blind. We used children from Pudulogong Resource Centre. If we do not give them a chance to play a role in Anafiki, they may never get the chance,” Lekolwane said in an interview after the preview.

Despite praised performances and strong technical execution across cinematography and pacing, the preview sparked debate regarding the film’s linguistic approach.

Although the subject matter and cultural backdrop are deeply rooted in Setswana tradition, the narrative is delivered primarily in English.

According to the production team, the choice of language was driven by commercial strategy and distribution considerations.

Lekolwane explained that the team opted for a script comprised of roughly 80 per cent English and 20 per cent Setswana to maximise international market accessibility on a micro-distribution budget.

“It is very easy to win awards with a Setswana film, but when you are working with a micro-distribution budget, it is best to use 80 per cent English and 20 per cent your native language,” Lekolwane explained.

While foreign distribution often favours English-language content, local industry observers note that native-language storytelling with subtitles can preserve cultural nuance without sacrificing global appeal. Meanwhile, Flave Productions has not yet announced the official public premiere date for Anafiki, but the film is expected to rollout to public cinemas across Botswana in the coming months. ENDS