Botswana’s ambassador in the contemporary dance space is starting the year on a high. The group is none other than Mophato Dance Theatre, and they have something big to celebrate. In November last year, the group penetrated the South African highly competitive market with the outstanding Pula, the Musical.
The reception for Pula was spectacular, and now they have nailed not just one but four nominations in the annual 1st Independent Theatre Makers Awards 2024. The four nominees are for Best Musical, Best Costume Designer, Best Lead in a Musical, and Best Music Composer. Under the Best Musical Category, the group is facing Pienaar The Musical produced by the South African State Theatre, Selekane, produced by the Generation of Stars as well as Imnxinwa, also produced by the South African State Theatre.
The Best Costume Designer category, comprises of groups/ designers that include Olgar Lepuru from the Petjana ya Badimo production, Keamohetswe Rachel Modisedife of Imnxinwa production, as well as Botshelo Mutle of Who left the fridge open. One of the most interesting nominations happens to be the Best in a Musical category, featuring Botswana’s darling, Palesa Molefe, who depicted the role of Mmapula - the rain maker's daughter who has to take over the rain making reign from his father, Ntirelang Berman.
This nomination cements the fact that Molefe went above and beyond to depict and tell the story of Mmapula as she embarked on the journey to learning the ropes of rain making while dealing with other factors. She has been nominated alongside Herman Dipolelo Malema from Pienaar the Musical, and Tumelo Zakes Mdabuli from Selekane. In an interview, the Spokesperson of Mophato Dance Theatre, Hope Moumakwa, shares that they were informed about the exciting news through a phone call.
The organisers of the awards, he explains attended the musical, which is how they were nominated. He further says that this nominations means a lot to them, as this was their big entry into the South African market. Amazingly, the nominations is a major milestone for them after the success of their debut in Broadway. “We are hoping to clinch all the categories,” he explains. Moumakwa also notes that these nominations is testament to the hard work that went into the production.
“Pula is a musical of the world. And it deserves to be amongst the best musicals internationally,” explains Moumakwa. Ideally, he says that they wish to penetrate and take over the African market, and enjoy three months runs in the international stages. “You can see with the nomination of our lead, Palesa Molefe, this speaks volumes,” he says adding that these nominations are paving way for great things for the group. Pula, as the name suggest, is a powerful, spiritual, and beautiful story about a newly-wed young woman who now has to learn what it takes to be a rainmaker, a craft that she learns from her father, played by the talented Ntirelang Berman.
The story of Go roka Pula, takes the audience through the many beautiful dances of Batswana, showing off this ancient method of summoning rain from above through the lands of Basarwa, plains of Mbukushu, Kalanga and other tribes.
The reception for Pula was spectacular, and now they have nailed not just one but four nominations in the annual 1st Independent Theatre Makers Awards 2024. The four nominees are for Best Musical, Best Costume Designer, Best Lead in a Musical, and Best Music Composer. Under the Best Musical Category, the group is facing Pienaar The Musical produced by the South African State Theatre, Selekane, produced by the Generation of Stars as well as Imnxinwa, also produced by the South African State Theatre.
The Best Costume Designer category, comprises of groups/ designers that include Olgar Lepuru from the Petjana ya Badimo production, Keamohetswe Rachel Modisedife of Imnxinwa production, as well as Botshelo Mutle of Who left the fridge open. One of the most interesting nominations happens to be the Best in a Musical category, featuring Botswana’s darling, Palesa Molefe, who depicted the role of Mmapula - the rain maker's daughter who has to take over the rain making reign from his father, Ntirelang Berman.
This nomination cements the fact that Molefe went above and beyond to depict and tell the story of Mmapula as she embarked on the journey to learning the ropes of rain making while dealing with other factors. She has been nominated alongside Herman Dipolelo Malema from Pienaar the Musical, and Tumelo Zakes Mdabuli from Selekane. In an interview, the Spokesperson of Mophato Dance Theatre, Hope Moumakwa, shares that they were informed about the exciting news through a phone call.
The organisers of the awards, he explains attended the musical, which is how they were nominated. He further says that this nominations means a lot to them, as this was their big entry into the South African market. Amazingly, the nominations is a major milestone for them after the success of their debut in Broadway. “We are hoping to clinch all the categories,” he explains. Moumakwa also notes that these nominations is testament to the hard work that went into the production.
“Pula is a musical of the world. And it deserves to be amongst the best musicals internationally,” explains Moumakwa. Ideally, he says that they wish to penetrate and take over the African market, and enjoy three months runs in the international stages. “You can see with the nomination of our lead, Palesa Molefe, this speaks volumes,” he says adding that these nominations are paving way for great things for the group. Pula, as the name suggest, is a powerful, spiritual, and beautiful story about a newly-wed young woman who now has to learn what it takes to be a rainmaker, a craft that she learns from her father, played by the talented Ntirelang Berman.
The story of Go roka Pula, takes the audience through the many beautiful dances of Batswana, showing off this ancient method of summoning rain from above through the lands of Basarwa, plains of Mbukushu, Kalanga and other tribes.
