GLOBAL ACCOLADES
Local author nominated for international award
The Forty Under 40 Africa Awards that identifies, honours and celebrates a cross-section of the continent’s most influential and accomplished young business leaders under the age of forty has listed two young Batswana as nominees.
One of the two, is 38-year-old Dr Lesedi Gaeemelwe – a multi award winning children’s author of the book Little Ngwana stories. The book was launched in 2020 and has since attracted accolades and opportunities to serve children locally and internationally through regular book reading sessions.
The book was also approved by the Gauteng Education Department as reading material for school libraries in the academic year 2024/2025, for both the English version and the Setswana translations.
Her dream is to have Little Ngwana Stories adopted by the local curriculum and library services. She explains that literary materials are bought by public sector organisations on specific set dates and seasons and as a self-published author it is vital to look out for such openings.
“I believe when it opens up in Botswana I will surely grab it,” she says.
Speaking to The Midweek Sun in an interview, Dr Gaeemelwe explained that the nomination process was opened towards the end of 2023, and she decided to nominate herself. “I submitted all my company, entrepreneurial and community work documents and waited in hope for the nomination,” she said.
Forty Under 40 Africa Awards recognise participants from a wide range of industries, who are committed to business growth, professional excellence and community service and have risen the ranks of their companies or industries at a relatively young age.
Dr Gaeemelwe holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Botswana, a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Botswana, a Master of Business Administration in International Business from AMITY University (India) and a PHD Honoris Causa in Children’s Literature from the International Internship University (India).
She is proud that Little Ngwana Stories were translated to Braille by the Mochudi Resource Centre for the Blind in 2021. She often holds regular book reading sessions with children of all types. She also does weekly reading book sessions through the National Library Services as well as at the Gaborone Children’s Library.
Dr Gaeemelwe, who is currently a Business Studies teacher at a local junior secondary school says the nomination will expose her to more opportunities to reach more children through her literary work that promote literacy in children and combat various life issues.
“Winning this award will open more doors and opportunities for me professionally and personally
within and outside my literary work, as I aim to spark an intensified reading culture for all types of children, leaving no stone unturned.”
Dr Gaeemelwe has been nominated under the ‘Authorship and Creative Writing’ category. There are about 40 other categories to be awarded to 40 other young business leaders.
Little Ngwana stories is a 60 page A4 size collection of eight fictional stories that are Gospel based covering various life issues such as self-identity, Gender Based Violence and talents among others. The book has been endorsed by Victoria Joel of Centre of Hope Academy as suitable for all types of children ranging from ages three to 12 years old.
“I have received a lot of support locally from even before the book was launched. Both local organisations and individuals are often ready to support activities held by the book such as the book reading sessions that take place at the Gaborone Children’s Library and other venues,” she says.
Dr Gaeemelwe agrees that the reading culture in Botswana needs to be improved, especially now where information is regarded as instant, which is not true. “Treasures are usually hidden, and a reading culture is one of the ways to unearth treasure,” she says.
Dr Gaeemelwe has so far received the AfriCAN Honoree Authors Award in 2021, the Mulher Forte African Literature Award in 2022, the PANAFES Excellence Award in 2022, the Botswana Literature Award in 2023 and Image Magazine Personality of the Year Award in 2023.
According to organisers, year after year, they have seen outstanding individuals of trailblazers strive hard with dedication and perseverance by overcoming challenges and economic instability.
“These are the people we want to award.” Categories cover a wide range of all the various sectors ranging from banking and finance, energy, family business, agriculture, theatre and arts, journalism, fashion, law, sports, event management, health, technology and innovation amongst others.
The purpose of the awards is also to encourage upcoming youth that excellence and success can be achieved at a very tender age.