At a time when traditional languages and customs are at risk of annihilation, poet Kepaletswe Kenalemang, known by his stage name Namane ya Kubu, is determined to keep the flame of Setswana poetry alive. His newly published anthology, Lekuka La Ditswa-Ganong, celebrates Botswana’s cultural identity through poems that explore heritage, spirituality, life’s hardships, and Pan-African pride.
The title itself holds deep cultural meaning. Lekuka refers to a traditional leather bag used to carry sour milk, while Ditswa-Ganong means “information from the mouth.” Kenalemang portrays himself as the Lekuka a vessel preserving and carrying the richness of the Setswana language and oral tradition for generations to come.
“Poem after poem, I built the collection as inspiration came to me,” he explained. “When I finally had enough poems, I searched for a fitting title one that would capture the essence of the book and invite Setswana enthusiasts to read and reflect with me.”
One of the anthology’s most powerful pieces, Tsela Ya Sehithwa–Shakawe, navigates emotional turmoil as the poet reflects on the perilous road connecting Sehithwa and Shakawe — a path marked by potholes and stray cattle. The poem becomes both a lament and a plea to government to address the people’s suffering.
Through idioms and rhyme, Kenalemang captures the frustration and pain of neglected lives. The haunting line “Mabolela le matsadi a tsela e, a saletse mo go rona” — loosely translated as “the scars and deformities of the road stay and become us” — leaves the poem on a painfully reflective note. It’s a cry not just about infrastructure, but about the scars that society carries with endurance and silence.
For Kenalemang, writing in Setswana is an act of pride and a sacred responsibility a way to honor those who came before him.
“Our culture, the one I belong to, the one I inherited and was nurtured in is built within the very language of my forefathers,” he said passionately. “Deep where they rest, I believe they look upon me with pride for how I am carrying the baton forward.”
Each poem in Lekuka La Ditswa-Ganong carries its own weight, emotion, and story.
“Every poem has its own experience and background,” he shared. “To say one is more special than the others wouldn’t be true they all hold something dear to me. Honestly, I still find myself reciting them as if I’m reading them for the first time. That’s how close they are to my heart.”
For him, poetry is a calling and a way of life.
“If there was a proper market for poetry, I’d say it’s truly a way of life,” he reflected. “Our culture is slowly being overshadowed by Western influences, so poetry for me becomes a form of preservation. I do it out of personal satisfaction — every time I stand on a podium or sit at my desk to craft new work, I feel fulfilled. Mind you, I write, recite, and I can also sing!”
Kenalemang hopes readers will engage deeply with the poems — not just for meaning, but for their sound, rhythm, and linguistic beauty.
“Readers should enjoy the poems as they are crafted,” he said. “From each poem, one should learn and appreciate the phonetics, the rhythmic flow, and the technique behind the words. That’s how Setswana literature grows and stays alive.”
Behind the artistry, however, lies a story of personal struggle and perseverance. Living with a permanent spinal injury from a road accident near Gumare in 2019, Kenalemang faced immense challenges completing the anthology.
“Limited facilities in Maun made things harder since most of what I needed was in Gaborone,” he explained. “The accident left me almost disabled, and the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund is still refusing to compensate me despite medical proof. It took me longer to publish because I had to consider the risks of traveling long distances, especially by bus.”
Despite these challenges, his sense of purpose remains unshaken. He views poetry as a tool for preserving Setswana language and culture.
“It gives us pride to communicate in this unique way,” he said. “It enriches our language and creates literature resources for schools, libraries, museums, and researchers. This exposure can reach far and wide. Let’s live our culture!”
To upcoming poets and dreamers, his advice is heartfelt and defiant.
“Love your dreams!” he encouraged. “Challenges are part of every journey, but don’t give up. Let your ink tell the story of your life. Love your journey otherwise, you’ll die long before your death. We are the real agents of literature, the true cultural ambassadors.” Through Lekuka La Ditswa-Ganong, Namane ya Kubu emerges as both poet and guardian of the Setswana soul.
