Local thespians grow wings
Mosipidi facilitates exports of creative talent
The job of a creative artist does not need a population to stand in the way of living their dream. Instead for the local creative artists to do better in their respective careers, their dream job might be waiting for them outside the borders of this country, where there are better opportunities. It is on this backdrop that Michael Mosipidi remains committed to going to extremes to ensure that he exposes and exports local talents to developed industries in other parts of the world.
His footprints are not only limited to his first love of theatre/ acting but also extends to other sectors of the creative industry such as singing. A man with a clear vision, Mosipidi, who runs Semi House Productions, has his eyes on the ball when it comes to the local creative industry and opening doors for them not only locally but outside as well.
Lately, two Batswana, Debbie with A T and Angela Atlang are flying the flag of the country high. Songstress Debbie with a T recently jetted out of the country to Europe where she is slated to take on an exciting role as Rafiki in the Lion King. Atlang on the other hand, joins a growing number of Batswana who are spreading their wings in South Africa. She has joined the cast of Muvhango, and takes on the role of Itseng. Itseng is the troubled younger sister to James Motsamai, played by Dingaan Khumalo. She joins another Motswana on set, Sharon Seno who has been showing off her acting skills on the role of Marang. Other
Batswana who have had the pleasure of working in Muvhango include Maxwell Dichi and Gaosi Raditholo.
The latter depicted the role of Warona, Marang’s younger sister. Most of these opportunities have come through the work of one of Botswana’s unsung heroes, Mosipidi. Mosipidi has a very fruitful relationship with Word- ofMouth owner, Duma Ka Ndlovu.
Speaking in an interview with this publication, Mosipidi explains that for Batswana to produce quality thespians, it was vital that they are exposed to a developed industry. “For us to produce quality, we need to take our artists where there is quality so that they can one day come back, and develop what we have with the skills and knowledge that they have learnt outside,” he said.
He also notes that his company is committed to opening doors for local creatives. It takes time to produce quality, and he says that through the association, ABOSPA, this was a way to show that Batswana can achieve a lot when they work together. ABOSPA, he says is a way of giving young Batswana an opportunity to cultivate and do what they love after they complete their schools.
Explaining how, he came to have a relationship with Ndlovu, he shares that he searched the legendary producer on social media. His search eventually led him to sending a message to the Producer in 2016. In 2017, he says that the Producer started to respond to his messages.
They started to have conversations, and he asked him to come to Botswana. At the time, Mosipidi had the National Festival of ABOSPA event, and he wanted Ndlovu to come and see the talent of Batswana, with the hope that this would change the course for Batswana actors. “He was really blown away by our talent, and he promised that in his return, he would hold auditions.
The promise was that by the end of 2017, he would feature a Motswana on Muvhango, and many other projects that he is involved in such as The Lion King as a rep for Disney in Southern Africa, and his other soapies like Uzalo,” he says. During the auditions in question, there were two categories, namely singing and acting, the singers would then try their luck in South Africa for a role in the Lion King. Three singers also travelled with Mosipidi and Debbie with a T was successful in that audition.
During the auditions that they held, eight Batswana had an opportunity to travel with Mosipidi to South Africa, and from that trip, two Batswana namely, Seno and Dichi got parts in Muvhango.
The two were followed by Timela, who played the role of Nare. He also says for Atlang’s opportunity, she had an issue with Visa, followed by the Covid- 19 pandemic and that her role was given to someone else. Atlang was eventually given an opportunity in her new role.
“There is a lot that is happening and some of the information, I cannot share right now. There are so many opportunities that will come as a result of our partnership with Ndlovu,” he notes. A man who is always ready to share his networks, it is through him that Johnson Otlaadisa of New Look Studios also had an opportunity to meet Ndlovu. Ndlovu would later attend the inaugural Botswana TV and Film Festival in 2019, where he hinted that there is something in the pipeline that he was working on alongside, Otlaadisa.
His company, he said, was also involved in bringing together artists through the ‘ Art cannot Rust’ Initiative, and giving them an opportunity to collaborate in their works. He explains that this is one of their latest projects, and that artists will send them their audition clips, and from that pool they will select potential artists. This initiative will see them partnering and collaborating with other artists on projects.
“This is our way of giving back to the community,” he says, adding that his company was not getting any monetary gain from this project.
“Already as it is, companies are in the red, and you can wonder about the people and what they are going through.
We need to stick together and help each other where we can during these trying times,” he adds. “For as long as I am around, ‘ art cannot rust’ in our country,” he says. Mosipidi also says that this project will also include online adverts through Drama for companies that are interested. All legal frameworks will be put in place in order to protect all parties including the performer, and the company.