Why Botswana should never apologise for being itself “Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde’s timeless words lingered heavily in my mind after the events of this past Tuesday afternoon. Like thousands of other Batswana, I witnessed the historic visit of Darren Jason Watkins Jr, globally known as IShowSpeed to Gaborone for the first time.
Upon landing at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, Speed was ushered to the Diamond Park in Block 8, where Botswana quite literally shone. Over 45 million live viewers watched as “Welcome IShowSpeed” sparkled in diamonds, leaving the internet sensation visibly awestruck. From there, the experience shifted from luxury to lived reality.
Speed was taken to Old Naledi, riding a donkey cart, welcomed by an energetic and youthful fan-base alongside the Mafitlhakgosi Traditional Dance Group. He danced with the troupe, sampled local food, lifted weights at a makeshift community gym, and even danced inside a local church. I was on the ground capturing a young man grinning from ear to ear, fully immersed, fully present, and thoroughly enjoying himself before the tour continued to Main Mall and the Three Dikgosi Monument in the CBD.
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Then came the disappointment. As the dust from the day settled, another kind of heat rose. I struggled to understand how a moment filled with joy, cultural exchange, and authenticity could be framed so negatively especially when the guest himself was clearly having the time of his life.
It forced me to reflect on Wilde’s quote with sadness. Somewhere along the way, comparison and inferiority complexes have poisoned our sense of self.
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