Dramatic Scholars’ rise has been fittingly ‘dramatic’. A little over two years ago, the drama group did not exist. Now, the troupe is covering historic ground, becoming the first act from Botswana to perform at the prestigious Kenyan International Theatre Festival (KITFEST).
Taking to the stage in Nairobi for the annual festival’s 10th edition last Wednesday, the group showed exactly why they are so highly rated, putting-on a thrilling rendition of their hard-hitting play, ‘Dikgang Tsa Bagolo: Ngwana Mme’. The drama centres around two defining moments of regional conflict: the 1985 Gaborone Raids and the assassination of 28-year-old student activist, Abram Onkgopotse Tiro, who was killed by a parcel bomb in February 1974. The production, which premiered to critical acclaim at last year’s Matisong Festival, shatters the traditional fourth wall, utilizing an immersive approach that thrusts audiences into the emotional crucible of these apartheid-era cross-border attacks.
The energy was amplified by the riveting original music co-written and performed by the group. It is the bold, signature style that has become Dramatic Scholars’ hallmark. The group’s founder and Creative Director, Boikhutso Phenyo Molefhi, assures Voice Entertainment this is just the start.
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“So much of our history is undocumented. You go to archives and find nothing. Dramatic Scholars exists to close that gap, to make history engaging, entertaining, and alive,” highlights the 26-year-old. Molefhi’s work combines entertainment with education, focusing on stories rooted exclusively in African heritage, culture, and historical truth.
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