FEATURE: Notable Motswana (25 Dec 2008)

I have had the pleasure and honour of portraying him on stage and I hope to have the pleasure and honour to portray again, on film. 

His is a heroic story of indomitable faith and vision even with the political opposition he faced from present-day Zimbabwe and South Africa for his inter-racial marriage, and it is not hard to see why his human values have touched the world over and his country Botswana to this day. Our first president, my hero, Sir Seretse Khama.

Seretse Khama was born in 1921 in Serowe, in what was then the Bechuanaland Protectorate. He was the son of Sekgoma Khama II, the paramount chief of the Bamangwato people, and the grandson of Khama III, their king. The name "Seretse" means “the clay that binds together,” and was given to him to celebrate the recent reconciliation of his father and grandfather; this reconciliation assured Seretse’s own ascension to the throne with his aged father’s death in 1925. Wanna know more? Click below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seretse_Khama

FEATURE: Notable Motswana (22 Dec 2008)

She is my dear friend, she is former Miss Universe and one of the most intelligent people I have ever met and she is a Political Economist and an actress at the same time. She was one of the best athletes at my high school, and Botswana's pride and joy. Mpule Kwelagobe.

Mpule Keneilwe Kwelagobe of Gaborone, Botswana was crowned Miss Universe in May of 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago.She was the first Miss Universe Botswana and the first Miss Botswana to participate in the Miss Universe pageant.

Since being crowned Miss Universe 1999, Mpule has been recognized and honored as a human health rights activist, especially for her fight against HIV/AIDS and advocacy for youth and women to have greater access to sexual reproductive education and services.