By: Paula .O.M Otukile
Who are you?
My name is Oaitse Phikane. A Moshaga descendant of the Batlhaping ba ga Phuduhutswana from the village of Kang in the Kgalagadi region of Botswana. Setlogolo sa Bashaga ba ba ipitsa Bariti, Maririma mantsho ko Gamoriti mo Kang.
I am an Entreprenuer, Author, Publisher under Oaitse Creations and Educator at Flourishing Dreams University which is a tuition center for PSLE,JC,BGCSE and Peer mentoring. I am a trained Counselor and hold a Trainer of Trainers certification. I am a Community Builder and also I host corporate events as an MC.
When did you begin writing?
I started writing when I was in Primary school but I took it seriously after completing my Form 5 when I started writing a magazine that is unpublished up to date. This magazine has birthed 8 Published books, 2 of which are in my native language Shekgalagari as it is commonly known.
How is the book industry in Botswana?
The Book industry in Botswana is promising. We have authors who are full of passion. They only need an audience.
How are your sales so far?
Book sales for me at the moment are very low. Remember, most of the authors in Botswana are self-sponsored. You use your family funds to sponsor a passion and vision, but at the moment, the turnout sales are not yet where we want them to be. Maybe one day we shall reap the fruits of our labor.
Who is your inspiration in terms of literary arts?
When it comes to literature, Ngugi wa Thiongo has always been my inspiration as a little girl. To think that an African can write Best Selling and Inspirational books blows my mind.
Joyce Meyer has always been my inspiration too. I think my English Motivational books have her style of writing. She will make you look at your situation and see yourself above it.
What motivated you to write?
At my Junior School I was the Library monitress. This made me have a passion for books, I started researching about different African Authors who wrote Paceseeter novels. This made me believe that one day I will hold a book with my name on the cover.
What’s you five year plan?
My Five year plan as an Author from now is:
- Own a Bookstore that will sell books written by Africans
- Own a Coffee stop on the Transkalahari that has a Book shop inside.
- To write a History book about my people (Bakgalagadi) and their origins
- To promote literary arts in schools and communities through capacity building workshops
Are you a reader?
I am a serial reader. I read to save my life. Everything I touch that has words I have to read it. At the moment my interest is in the History of Batswana. I am a member of an Institute called GooLowe that compromises of Batswana researchers from South Africa and Botswana and our current project requires us to dig deeper in the roots of Batswana. So everyday I am reading and researching about Batswana.
Do you plan to do E-books?
Yes. I plan to do E-books because some of our beloved readers love their gadgets and would love to read our books from their gadgets.
Technology is growing and digital works are busy replacing analogue so which one do you prefer, reading online or physical books?
There is something about a physical book. The smells of it as you go through the chapters. Holding your book on a rainy day, sipping your coffee that is out of this world. I love to read holding my book it’s therapeutic.
Your encouragement to the upcoming authors?
Believe in yourself. Put in the work. There are no shortcuts to writing. Do your homework and invest on that book.
Your last word?
Literary arts are the new diamonds. It is time to treat our books as great investments that can change our society for the better. The more we read, the better people we become.
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