NEELO LENTEBANYE: BEST PLAY WRIGHT, 2017 PRESIDENTIAL COMPETITIONS

#Pieoneer Neelo Lentebanye

Neelo Lentebanye, hailing from Lecheng she holds a degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre) from the University of Botswana. She is a voice over artist, a writer, director, photographer and wants to venture into being a creative entrepreneur. She is currently a writer with Petlo Literary Artists. She has done voice over work for Barclays Madi Majwana Radio drama, season 2 & 3 under the company at Maitisong. She has done various radio adverts for Gender Affairs Department and Invents Events Her latest achievements include co-writing an award winning script for the 2017 Presidential Competitions. She has co-founded ‘Women In Arts’ Trust to try and address issues affecting women and the girl child though performance and workshops.

Pieoneers Blog was honored to get an interview with the witty,  very humble and ever smiling Neelo Lentebanye to get a glimpse into her mind and have good feel of who she is and what drives her passion. She is indeed a Pieoneer and will definitely be an iconic figure in the theatrical and literary field of work as the years go by.

Pieoneers: First things first, how do you feel after winning the award for best Play Wright for a script you co-wrote?

Neelo: (Grinning) it’s the most amazing thing ever; all by the grace of God, I mean I still can’t believe it happened. It’s like a dream or something. I knew I was going to take the award because they called first to notify me that the script I co-wrote won best Play Wright. It’s my biggest achievement this year.

Pioneers: Where do you see yourself going with theatre and writing?

Neelo: We recently finished registering a trust which is called Women In Arts WIA) because I saw the need for women’s productions in Botswana. The theatre industry in Botswana is male dominated. Do you know Maitisong Festival? It is like the biggest theatre festival in the country. Most productions at the festival are male; written, produced, directed and acted out by males. It is my mission to have at least 3 plays by women at the festival in the next year or two. So I would like to see myself changing the perception of the male domination in the industry and take this art beyond borders.

Pieoneers: The theatre industry isn’t as popular among Batswana, so how do you get to make money out of it?

Neelo: You have to be active. We like collaborating and proposing to corporate sponsors. The sponsor could become a partner and offer a venue at a discounted price. Or it could be monetary commitment that will be used either to pay actors or any bill the agreement is based upon. Then the sponsor benefits from the coverage and exposure. Then everyone involved has to sell tickets as well.

Pieoneers: How is the turn up to the events?

Neelo: People are not yet accustomed to the culture of theatre. Motho will be like “aah keya go lebelle drama?But no it’s not like that because theatre is different. So most of the times the turn up is very low.

Pieoneers: Then how well do you take failure? Be it low turn up or say you wrote a proposal to FNB and they don’t respond as you would have wished.

Neelo: One thing you have to know about me is that, when I do something I put my all in it. So if it does not work out, at least I know I did my best given the circumstances.

Pieoneers: I hear you. Let’s get personal a lil bit. What do you consider yourself be within the boundaries of; an introvert, ambivert and extrovert?

Neelo: (giggles) I have a thousand personalities guys you don’t understand.

Pieoneers: Then you are an ambivert, a mixture of both. 

Neelo: Yes! Because some days I’m all bubbly and other days I hate people (laughs out). Plus everyday I’m a different person.

Pieoneers: I personally think it’s vital for anyone with a dream to have someone who believes in them at an earlier point in life. In your world who is that one person who saw potential in you while you were young?

Neelo:  You are right, some people can see potential in you even if you don’t see it yourself and they can nurture that. I would say Mma Sefolosha she was my teacher of English in junior school (Mahalapye).

Pieoneers: So you schooled in Mahalapye?

Neelo: Dude! I have footprints all over Botswana.

Pioneers: I guess that exposure to most parts of Botswana came in handy in terms of inspiration and writing?

Neelo: (quickly cuts in) Yes it did, because now i kind of know different tribes and that helps at times when writing a Setswana based story because already I have a general idea of the setting and everything.

Pieoneers: When did you know that you want to be a writer?

Neelo: I think when I was in Varsity. I’m a late bloomer I know (laughing).

Pieoneers: Are you for real?

Neelo: I am, I was initially admitted for Media Studies because I wanted to do marketing, radio and TV. Then I switched courses after I found out it was saturated. Since I did drama in Junior School, I was interested in doing this, the Theatre course. That’s when I was challenged to start scripts. There was radio play writing, stage writing and theatre writing. That’s when I fell in love with writing.

Pieoneers: How do you normally start your script writing and when are you at your most creative.

Neelo: I normally start with a synopsis because it gives me a “There” because people write and halfway they can’t finish the story because they didn’t have a synopsis to know the ending. I’m usually at my most creative when I’m alone because when you around people is like they block your creativity.

Pieoneers: We would like to wish you all the best in your future endeavors, you are officially a Pieoneer. 

Neelo: Oh Thank you, likewise.