02 Nov 2026

Five Batswana authors have earned nominations for the 2026 African Authors Recognition Awards (AARA), marking a significant milestone for Botswana’s literary sector.

The nominees are Benjamin Ntsayakgosi, popularly known as BENZEPOET; Keaobaka Kgosi, Gothata Gopolang, Botshelo Sethomolane and Poloko Otlogetswe.

For the nominees, the recognition reflects different personal journeys, creative inspirations and a shared commitment to using literature to tell stories that resonate beyond national borders.

In the Poetry category, BENZEPOET received a nomination for his collection, Trace the Tracks of My Tears, a deeply personal work exploring grief, loss, love and resilience.

He said the collection was inspired partly by the loss of his father in June 2021, which prompted him to explore the emotional journey of bereavement through poetry.

“The idea was not just to write poetry but to map out the internal landscape of human grief, showing how love, loss and resilience intertwine during difficult moments,” he said and explained that the collection had previously won Best English Poetry at the 2025 Botswana Literature Awards, making the AARA nomination another meaningful achievement.

As for Kgosi, nominated in the Best Debut Author category for Subtle Letters: Your Venting Journal, he said the book grew out of her personal journaling experience.

She explained that writing had provided her with a safe space to express emotions she often struggled to communicate.

“A particular journal entry in which I expressed how tired I was of hurt and pain became a turning point. It made me realise how much I had been carrying and how journaling had helped me process those emotions,” she said.

Kgosi said the nomination was humbling and demonstrated how private experiences could connect with and inspire others.

Meanwhile, Gopolang earned a nomination in the Motivational Inspirational Speaker category for Roses Will Bloom Again.

Gopolang said the book was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, when widespread loss of life and grief created a need for messages of hope, faith and encouragement.

The book also drew on testimonies of answered prayers in her life and the lives of people around her. 

In the Fiction category, Sethomolane was nominated for, From Tswapong Hills to the White Shores of Sicily, a historical-inspired fictional account influenced by his late grandfather’s experiences during the Second World War.

He said his grandfather served in the African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps, which fought on behalf of Britain, and family accounts of his wartime experiences sparked his interest in documenting the largely overlooked history of African soldiers.

Sethomolane said the nomination had strengthened his confidence as a fiction writer.

Completing the Botswana nominees is Otlogetswe whose book, The Silence is Heavier earned a nomination in the Non-Fiction category.

Otlogetswe said the book was inspired by an interest in sexual assault awareness, particularly the experiences of victims who often remain silent about their trauma.

She described the nomination as deeply rewarding. ENDS