Author: Daily News

Who says a mom-to-be cannot be a champion? Naledi Diketso, better known as Solo, defied all odds when she was crowned the winner of the music business show Lyric Leap’s first season at eight months pregnant this past Friday.
Solo stepped onto the Lyric Leap stage as the second act of the night, following Blair Wa Seopedi and preceding Hazel, both of whom had delivered performances that made their ambitions unmistakable. With three backup singers behind her, Solo belted into the microphone, delivering a jazz-infused track enriched with a distinctly gospel undertone as she sang, motho ga a fele!,  a bold declaration that she, too, was there to win.
A P30 000 cash prize and a recording deal  both designed to help launch a sustainable music career hung in the balance.
Only one of the three finalists could take the title, based on strong vocals and the best original song.
Solo took the audience to church, singing as though her life depended on it. And in many ways, it did, for the little life growing inside her depended on nothing less than her very best.
Solo joins a long line of inspirational female performers who refused to press pause on their dreams due to societal expectations around motherhood, especially in the public eye. One striking example is the 2025 America’s Got Talent winner Jessica Sanchez, who won the competition at nine months pregnant. Her victory became a historic moment for AGT and a powerful testament to women balancing ambition and motherhood.
Also notable is comedian Ali Wong, who filmed her 2016 Netflix special Baby Cobra while seven months pregnant. In an interview with ELLE Magazine, Wong said she wanted to use her pregnancy as a source of power, a weapon, not a weakness.
In her opening monologue, she joked that many female comedians disappear once they fell pregnant, for reasons known only to them.
Yet her point cut deeper: decades ago, a baby bump was something to be concealed, restricted by strict rules and social prohibitions. What should have been a joyful experience often became a “stumbling block” for women in the workplace,  a question of whether they could keep up and remain productive.
For women in the limelight, pregnancy was often perceived as a threat to their attractiveness, and by extension, their opportunities.
But the tide has turned. Women like Solo are boldly and publicly chasing their dreams, even while expecting.
Those old rules and social prohibitions have steadily lost their hold as women redefine motherhood and dismantle long-standing stigmas.
Perhaps it is the very life growing inside them that fuels their determination, a powerful motherly instinct that makes them, against all odds, a force to reckon with.
When she entered Lyric Leap, Solo, a wife and mother-to-be had recently lost her job. For Sanchez, also a wife and expectant mother, the road had been long, marked by years of auditions and earlier setbacks. Yet something about carrying new life seemed to push them both to fight harder than ever before.
A testament that motherhood is the ultimate dream-catcher, not a dream killer.

This festive season, diners can look forward to a fresh burst of flavours and elevated culinary experiences as Avani Gaborone Resort and Casino unveils a refined new menu devoted to indulgence and innovation.

The Mahogany Restaurant introduced its vibrant, stylish, and flavour-packed main menu on Friday, promising a pampering culinary journey for food enthusiasts.

 Curated under the leadership of Chef Bernard Phuti, the bespoke menu features premium ingredients, including corn, pickled vegetables, morula, Tswana chicken, Kapenta fish and beef complemented by carefully selected wines from Fine Brands (Pty) Ltd.

“We put together something a little bit different. This evening’s menu is a journey through various districts of Botswana. We took what is grown in different parts of the country and infused those elements into each dish,” said Avani Gaborone General Manager, Williem van Heerden.

Designed to elevate the dining experience, the comprehensive new menu offers sophisticated banqueting crafted to appeal to both hotel guests and local patrons, setting a new standard for the revamped Mahogany Restaurant.

On the plate…

Guests were welcomed with an Amuse Bouche with venison carpaccio thinly sliced and marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, and micro herbs offering delicate flavours that set the tone for the feast ahead.

A beef biltong starter, featuring shredded dried beef, followed, while an alternative goat cheese bruschetta offered a creamy blend of goat cheese seasoned with salt, pepper, and herbs, topped with a drizzle of honey.

The Clemen Gold sorbet, served in elegant glassware with fresh mint, lime, and a hint of honey, offered a refreshing, smooth texture and effectively reset the palate for the main course.

The main dishes harmoniously blend local flavours with international culinary techniques.

A standout is the Tswana chicken roulade, chicken breast stuffed with crushed fillet, paired with bogobe jwa lerotse and morogo wa dinawa. Another culturally inspired but globally appealing dish is the wildebeest seswaa steak, crusted with avocado, coriander, and chilli, and served with traditional zengwe (lebelebele) and morogo.

The inclusion of bogobe jwa lerotse and zengwe as starch options brings a rich traditional touch to the menu, while the accompanying morogo wa dinawa offers a homely, comforting appeal.

For beef lovers, the beef fillet was the undisputed highlight a tender slice sautéed and finished in mustard, Worcestershire sauce, mushrooms, herbs, and cream. Paired with corn and morogo, the melt-in-your-mouth fillet is likely to become a customer favourite.

The morula chilled yoghurt mousse stole the show ,a light, creamy dessert made from strained yoghurt infused with morula juice and topped with chocolate shavings. Its refreshing taste and velvety texture left a memorable finish.

Thoti Diketso, known her by stage name Solo, was crowned Lyric Leap grand finale winner Gaborone on December 4.

Solo, who was contesting against Hazel and Blair Wa Seopedi, walked away with a record deal and artist management as part of the winner’s package. 

Lyric Leap is a music competition show empowering 12 talented women over 11 weeks to grow their music and business skills. 

Solo thanked Lyric Leap for recognising her talent and creativity. 

Local animator and Learn Animation School founder, Theo Silitshena, is breaking new ground as co-writer of an animation film project with American animation company, Studio Moyo.

The sci-fi fantasy short film, To The Moon, is set for release mid-to-late 2026, on a date yet to be announced. However, the trailer is already out and momentum around the project is beginning to build.

Set in a vibrant Afro-futuristic village powered by invention and imagination, the story follows two inseparable friends, Aisha and Neumy, who embark on one last daring adventure before life pulls them in different directions.

When a sudden power outage threatens to derail their cosmic plans, Aisha’s determination sparks a bold idea that tests the limits of friendship, courage, and creation itself.

“The synopsis of the story is about two girls who do their best to spend one last day together before one of them moves. It’s based on that concept of longing, the desire to belong and going to great lengths to preserve a friendship,” Silitshena explained.

In an interview, Studio Moyo co-founder, Sam Shuggart, further explained that the story was about the trials of friendship as best friends Aisha and Neumy race to build a portal to the moon before a big move separates them. “But the question is, can their bond survive the journey?”

Shuggart added that the film was created in a stylistic approach rooted in Botswana culture, with backgrounds and environments that complement a 2D traditional animation style reminiscent of the recent television show Scavengers Reign, which inspired the design of the characters and creatures featured in the film.

Silitshena, who recently returned to Botswana with international deals that could transform local animation education, including partnerships with Disney and Titmouse, said achieving such a milestone showed Botswana’s potential to be outsourced to and to produce quality work collaboratively.

“This is like a blueprint of what I’ve been trying to establish, where we can collaborate with other studios abroad and create successful projects,” he said. He said his upcoming film camo would be from December 9 to 22 as well as an anime camp from December 15 to 22, where he would train children to access the same opportunities that he had been able to secure. 

Christmas season , a time traditionally known for thanksgiving and marked by exchanging gifts and celebrating with loved ones, former beauty queen, Lebopo Bulayani chose a different path.

Instead of dedicating her birthday, November 24, to personal treats, Bulayani transformed it into a profound day of service.

For Bulayani, giving remains the most meaningful way to honour life, echoing the biblical moment when the wise men brought gifts to baby Jesus.

In a recent conversation, Bulayani shared that the holiday atmosphere inspired her to make her birthday purposeful.

“People expect gifts this time of year. I decided to use my birthday to give something meaningful to those who need it most,” she said.

On November 24, her birthday began with a vital outreach, where she partnered with the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM), through which she donated 120 sanitary pads to girls at Ramotlabaki Primary School in Kgatleng, the community where she grew up.

This act carried a deeply personal memory.

“I have gone to school without a sanitary towel. I know what it means to save a girl’s dignity with just one pack,” she said.

Later that afternoon, the celebrations shifted to children living with autism at Neo Children’s Consults in Mochudi.

She not only celebrated with the children but also addressed parents and guardians, stressing the vital importance of acceptance and support for children with special needs.

“My birthdays have always been about reaching out. I love being around children, especially those living with disabilities or in centres that need more support,” she explained.

She said the children needed love, not isolation and parents also needed encouragement and safe spaces to share and learn. A tender moment stood out, one child quietly held her hand and whispered, ‘thank you.’ Moments like that, she said, reaffirmed her purpose.

Those who had worked closely with Bulayani attest that her influence stretched far beyond annual birthday gestures.

Daphney Phama, an educator and long-time collaborator, described Bulayani as a force of hope and transformation.

“Lebopo is called to make an impact on children. She is a change-maker and if we had a thousand Lebopos, Botswana and the world would be better,” Phama said.

She highlighted that Bulayani had unique ability to motivate students.

“She speaks from experience, showing young people that you can fall and rise again, and that your past does not define your future,” she said.

She noted Bulayani’s unwavering commitment since 2016, covering many spheres, including mentoring and teaching life skills, supporting schools, orphanages and local communities as well as working extensively with children with disabilities.

Phama also praised Bulayani’s impact as an author.

“Her book Orphaned has inspired so many. I wish it were in every school library and part of the curriculum. It is truly impactful,” she said.

Agatha Madikwe, who had worked with Bulayani through school and pageantry programmes, echoed similar praise.

“Lebopo is a true inspiration. She has supported our school for years, grooming the girl child through pageantry, offering her judging expertise and giving her time willingly,” Madikwe said.

Madikwe added that Bulayani did more than just show up as she built bridges in youth development.

“She runs cultural boot camps, speaks in the kgotla and wards about social ills, and gives the youth her time. Not many leaders do that,” she said.

Madikwe further said Bulayani’s work was not just service but a deep-seated purpose, which she walked in with humility, strength and heart.

Through every act, big or small, Bulayani continued to embody the true spirit of the season to give, heal, lift and inspire. As her community attests, her impact transforms not just days, but futures.

Pharing Gorge, a site of immense historical and cultural significance, served as a refuge for Bangwaketse during the 1830 invasion by Mzilikasi’s Amandebele.

The story remains untold and through Pharing Chronicles: The 1830 Escape Trail Heritage Hike initiative, national awareness on the heritage site would be reawakened through story-telling, guided hikes, youth engagement and traditional performances.

The hike will take place tomorrow.

Pharing Gorge, a natural landmark, beautiful and significant part of the Kanye landscape, served as a refuge for women and children during invasion by Amandebele.

According to Kgosi Bathoen II Museum Manager, Ms Neo Maphosa the objective of the hike is to promote and preserve the cultural and historical legacy of Bangwaketse.

It also aims to educate the nation about Bangwaketse history and heritage, and supporting sustainability of Kgosi Bathoen museum. The goal is to raise funds to procure artefacts for the museum.

The 15 kilometers debut hike, is expected to start with registration at 0530 early morning followed by the hike from 0545 am. Registration tickets would be sold at P100 per person.

The hike commences at Wena Tented Camp with the former Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane being the guest walker. 

Vivian Keatlholetswe, a 13-year-old Form 1 student at Kgalemang Motsete Junior Secondary School in Serowe, has made Botswana proud by winning the Miss Preteen Hope International 2025/26 title at the Miss Hope Pageants International Competition in Cape Town, South Africa. 

This prestigious competition, which took place from November 25 to 29, saw Vivian outshining contestants from 11 participating countries to take home the coveted crown. 

Vivian’s victory is a testament to her hard work and dedication, and she expressed her gratitude in an interview with BOPA, saying the crown  would allow her to continue her project : A CHILD A FLOWER. 

Her mother, Lydia Keatlholetswe, a Serowe District Officer, was present to witness her daughter’s triumph. She shared that the project: A CHILD A FLOWER, was about donating stationery supplies to less privileged children to promote education for all despite their social backgrounds. 

Furthermore, the newly crowned queen relayed that Hope International Pageants was a platform to empower young girls and women to use their talents to fulfill their purpose lives. 

She said it also encouraged participants to serve in their communities and give hope to the hopeless through community engagements.  

Narrating her journey to victory, she said from July 2025 to the finale, she attended Zoom trainings, which covered the following: identifying talents, developing projects and managing them, and interview and presentation tips. 

While in South Africa on November 27 and 28, Vivian attended a full training course on discovering purpose, optimally using her talents, and building a business in relation to the mentorship. 

She is happy that she has been awarded a certificate for the course, pointing out she also took part in a community outreach programme at a farm where she had a platform to share some gifts with children at the farm.  

All these happened prior to her being crowned with the coveted prize of Miss Preteen Hope International 2025/26 at the grand finale held on November 29.

To add cherry on top,  she also walked away with the Miss Congeniality Award, a feat she stated would accord her an opportunity to continue with her philanthropy work.

The young star is of the view that winning the pageant has created her a platform for personal growth. 

She attributed her victory to all Batswana who supported her all the way, more especially her parents, Kgalemang Motsete Junior Secondary School Head Ms Botho Supang and school management; Serowe District Council Social Worker, Mr Tshepiso Molefe, Botswana Hope International Director Ms Tlhatlogo Madiba and the Department of Information Services for providing media coverage throughout her journey.