SKY Girls BW launches Season 3 of Matswaka Bae

SKY BW hosted a listening session of Season 3 of Matswaka Bae this past Thursday at Lorraine’s Ntlo Maison Bistro, Gaborone. Apart from the chilly weather it was a lovely midweek outing; the ambience of the stunning restaurant was laidback, with a sea of beautiful people and yummy nibbles and drinks. The low-key event attracted media, friends of the cast members and stakeholders including representatives from the Ministry of Health, World Health Organisation and BOSASNET, among others.

Familiar faces included television presenter and brand ambassador Sadi Dikgaka, who looked pretty in a ponytail updo hairstyle and rocked a white jacket. Effervescent media personality Tshepo Maphanyane of Gabz FM was her usual chirpy self; she looked stunning with a lace wig that framed her face beautifully, and wore a black ensemble with sky-high heels.

She completed the look with a generous dab of popping pink lipstick. Yarona FM Zizi Panther (real name Mimi Mokgwathi) was with rumoured fiancé Bonnie Dintwa. Elle Brooks of Social Dialogue, who did a sterling job as MC, welcomed the guests. She gave a brief history of SKY and shared the mandate of the initiative. She also explained that they chose a medium that youth would identify with.

“The radio drama uses storytelling to allow the audience to explore their own feelings and actions, and aims to help teenage girls navigate their way through life,” she said. Speaking on behalf of the cast, eloquent Carol Kgomotso, who plays Mimi’s mom and Ms Thebe the teacher, waxed lyrical of the initiative and shared how being part of such a project had changed their lives.

She highlighted that the most important aspect of SKY BW is the impact that it has on the lives of young people in Botswana. The main cast members were also present and include Kago Malele who plays Lerato, Bonolo Bodibeng who tackles the character Chedza and Mimi Kayabe who acts as Mimi in the play. After the listening session, guests were treated to a wonderful performance by Jordan Mzenda and Katlego Ntirang, who did covers of popular songs like ‘Turn the lights down low’ by Lauryn Hill. Mzenda’s excellent guitar skills complemented Ntirang’s hauntingly rich voice.

Last year SKY Girls BW, in conjunction with T.O.P Art, first launched Matswakae Bae, a radio drama focusing on the lives of teens in Botswana. The drama highlights the highs and lows of everyday life and has proven to be a hit among young people across Botswana. The drama centers on the lives of three girls living in Gaborone, Lerato, Chedza and Mimi. Season one revolved around Lerato’s struggles to stay true to herself. Season 2, which aired in April 2017, focused on the pressure to be popular. In Season 3, that launches this Saturday, the girls are now in the final term of Form 3 and they face exam and relationship pressure that include tackling the blesser phenomenon.

There are other interesting additions as local artist Lucky Dima of Kuptan Skool has brought the Matswaka Bae characters to life in the form of a comic strip that can be found in every issue of SKY magazine. SKY stands for ‘Sure Ka Yone’ and ‘Shapo Ka Yone’. SKY Girls are defined as teenage girls who have defined the things that they love (Sures) and the things they don’t want in their lives (Shapos). Since launching in February 2014, over 15,000 girls have taken the SKY pledge - a personal promise to stay true to themselves.

The SKY magazine is delivered to schools every three months, while the SKY Live radio talk show airs on RB2 radio station, every Saturday at 12.30pm. **To learn more about the SKY movement, make a pledge or listen to past episodes, visit skygirlsbw on Facebook, or sky-girls-bw on Soundcloud or skygirlsbw on their YouTube page. They are also on iTunes, and you can search ‘Matswaka Bae’.