Donald Leungo Gosego Molosi (born 11 December 1985) is a
Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label= Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalaha ...
actor, writer and playwright. Molosi debuted
off-Broadway in 2010 as
Philly Lutaaya
Philly Bongoley Lutaaya (19 October 1951 – 15 December 1989) was a Ugandan musician who was the first prominent Ugandan to give a human face to HIV/ AIDS. He became a national hero because he was the first Ugandan to declare that he was HIV – ...
in ''Today It's Me''
making him the first Motswana to perform off-Broadway. In 2011, Molosi won the Best Short Solo Award at
United Solo Theatre Festival
United Solo Theatre Festival is the world's largest solo theatre festival. It takes place at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York City. Its founder and artistic director is Omar Sangare. The festival presents many categories of solo shows, incl ...
for his performance as
Seretse Khama
Sir Seretse Goitsebeng Maphiri Khama, GCB, KBE (1 July 1921 – 13 July 1980) was a Motswana politician who served as the first President of Botswana, a post he held from 1966 to his death in 1980.
Born into an influential royal fa ...
in ''Blue, Black and White''. In 2013, Molosi returned off-Broadway to perform ''Motswana: Africa, Dream Again''. He played supporting roles in the films ''
A United Kingdom
''A United Kingdom'' is a 2016 biographical romantic drama film directed by Amma Asante and written by Guy Hibbert, based on the true-life romance of Seretse Khama, heir to the throne of the Bangwato Tribe in Serowe – one of many tribes f ...
'' (2016) and ''Given'' (2009). As a playwright, Molosi has published a collection of his original off-Broadway plays, which include ''We Are All Blue'',
[Donald Molosi](_blank)
Amazon.com. Retrieved 1 September 2017. ''Blue, Black and White''
and ''Motswana: Africa, Dream Again''
in 2016.
Education
Molosi attended
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts. It was established as a men's college in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams, a colonist from the Province of Massachusetts Bay who was kill ...
in the United States, where he graduated with a
double-major Bachelor of Arts
degree in Theatre and
Political Science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...
.
[Donald Molosi – Biography](_blank)
''IMDb'.' Retrieved 10 September 2017.'' He holds a Diploma in
Classical acting
Classical acting is a type of acting that is based on the theories and systems of select classical actors including Konstantin Stanislavski and Michel Saint-Denis, including the expression of the body, voice, imagination, personalizing, improvisat ...
from the
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art,
and a Master of Arts degree in Theatre and
Performance Studies
Performance studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that uses performance as a lens and a tool to study the world. The term ''performance'' is broad, and can include artistic and aesthetic performances like concerts, theatrical events, ...
from the
University of California Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara or UCSB) is a public land-grant research university in Santa Barbara, California with 23,196 undergraduates and 2,983 graduate students enrolled in 2021–2022. It is part of the Un ...
. Molosi is currently studying for MA Creative Writing at
Brunel University
Brunel University London is a public research university located in the Uxbridge area of London, England. It was founded in 1966 and named after the Victorian engineer and pioneer of the Industrial Revolution, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. In June ...
in the United Kingdom, thorough a
Chevening
Chevening House () is a large country house in the parish of Chevening in Kent, in Southeast England. Built between 1617 and 1630 to a design reputedly by Inigo Jones and greatly extended after 1717, it is a Grade I listed building. The surr ...
scholarship.
Early life and background
Donald Molosi was born the last child of 2 in
Mahalapye
Mahalapye is a town located in the Central District of Botswana.
The town has about 41,000 inhabitants and is situated along the main road between the capital Gaborone and the second largest city Francistown.
Mahalapye has a bus station, a rail ...
,
Botswana
Botswana (, ), officially the Republic of Botswana ( tn, Lefatshe la Botswana, label= Setswana, ), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory being the Kalaha ...
, in 1985
[Interview with Donald Molosi](_blank)
''Indie Activity''. Retrieved 15 September 2017. and attended
Maru a Pula School
Maru-a-Pula School is a co-educational, independent day and boarding secondary school in Gaborone, Botswana. It was founded in 1972.
The school prepares students for the Cambridge International General Certificate of Education
The Cambridge I ...
in
Gaborone
Gaborone ( , , ) is the capital and largest city of Botswana with a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census, about 10% of the total population of Botswana. Its agglomeration is home to 421,907 inhabitants at the 2011 census.
Gaboron ...
, Botswana, before continuing his education in London and the United States of America. From a young age, Molosi demonstrated a natural performance flair and by the age of 16, he was already touring with arts festivals, including the Maitisong Festival in Gaborone, with The Company Maitisong, where Molosi was also co-writing plays,
[A piecing together of fragments](_blank)
''Mmegi Online''. Retrieved 15 September 2017. and the
National Arts Festival
The National Arts Festival (NAF) is an annual festival of performing arts in Grahamstown, South Africa. It is the largest arts festival on the African continent and one of the largest performing arts festivals in the world by visitor numbers.
Th ...
,
[The immortal story teller](_blank)
''The Voice''. Retrieved 15 September 2017. Grahamstown, South Africa
Makhanda, also known as Grahamstown, is a town of about 140,000 people in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is situated about northeast of Port Elizabeth and southwest of East London. Makhanda is the largest town in the Makana Loc ...
. Molosi made a radio and television appearances at a young age becoming the youngest person on the airwaves as a radio announcer at Yarona FM.
He also partnered with
UNICEF
UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to ...
as a child presenter on Botswana Television during the UN International Children's Day of Broadcasting.
This resulted in a short stint at Radio Botswana 2 (RB2) under the tutelage of radio veteran, One Rabantheng.
In 2002, Molosi wrote and staged his first solo performance, ''Fragments'',
directed by renowned Motswana director Gao Lemmenyane at 17.
''Fragments'' is based on children's rights in Botswana. With the critical acclaim that ''Fragments'' earned, Molosi got invited to New York City for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children and he had a grand performance of the same play with world leaders such as former UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan (; 8 April 193818 August 2018) was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. He was the founde ...
and former
South African President
The president of South Africa is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of South Africa. The president heads the executive branch of the Government of South Africa and is the commander-in-chief of the South African Natio ...
Nelson Mandela in attendance.
Molosi took the ''Fragments'' message further to advocate for children's rights through his poetry exhibition, Can I Live? (2002) based on his interpretation of the
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (also called the ACRWC or Children's Charter) was adopted by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1990 (in 2001, the OAU legally became the African Union) and was entered into force in ...
.
For his stellar and outstanding efforts in performances, Molosi received the
Sir Seretse and
Lady Ruth Khama Brilliant Spirit Award (2003) by His Excellency Lt. Gen.
Seretse Khama Ian Khama
Seretse Khama Ian Khama (born 27 February 1953) is a Botswana politician and former military officer who was the fourth President of the Republic of Botswana from 1 April 2008 to 1 April 2018. After serving as Commander of the Botswana Defence ...
.
While in High school at
Taft School
The Taft School is a private, coeducational school located in Watertown, Connecticut, United States. It teaches students in 9th through 12th grades and post-graduates.
About three-quarters of Taft's roughly 600 students live on the school's ...
in Watertown,
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...
, in 2005, Molosi was one of the two lead vocalists in the a cappella group Eccedoce and he starred in regional theatrical productions ''You Can't Take It With You'' and ''The Misanthrope''.
By the time Molosi turned 18, he had decided to move to United States and was shortly enrolled at Williams College, America's leading
Liberal Arts College in
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown is a town in the northern part of Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts, United States. It shares a border with Vermont to the north and New York to the west. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolit ...
, to pursue two
bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
s both in Theater and Political Science. His passion in arts and performances culminated in a thesis that showcased the exhibition of poetry''Embodied'', which features the paintings of Stefan Elrington and Maya Lama. Molosi later studied under
Academy-Award
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
winner
Janet Suzman
Dame Janet Suzman, (born 9 February 1939) is a South African-born British actress who enjoyed a successful early career in the Royal Shakespeare Company, later replaying many Shakespearean roles, among others, on TV. In her first film, ''Nichol ...
at the
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) where he earned his
Graduate Diploma in Classical Acting. Molosi is an ambassador for Brand Botswana.
["10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT DONALD MOLOSI"](_blank)
''Botswana Youth''. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
Career
Molosi has won several regional, national and international awards as a playwright, actor and writer.
[Donald Molosi](_blank)
''Indie Theater Now''. Retrieved 10 September 2017. In addition to his early awards, he won Best Actor at the Dialogue One Festival in Massachusetts for his portrayal of Sir Seretse Khama 2008;
the Sanford Prize for Excellence in Theater 2009
and the 2009 Florence Chandler Fellowship,
which enabled him to conduct theater research around the world for 12 months.
In 2010, Molosi returned to
New York's off-Broadway, where he successfully staged four
solo shows, including ''Blue, Black and White'' about the life of Seretse Khama that earned Molosi Best Actor Award in 2011 and ''Today It's Me'' about the life of Uganda's music superstar where he got the Robert Potter Playwriting Award.
Molosi was also a
headliner at the 2015 Writivism Festival in Uganda where he graced the occasion with yet another outstanding performance of ''Today It's Me'' to the delight of his numerous audience at the event. He was equally a Writivism mentor for emerging African writers in 2015. ''Motswana Africa, Dream Again'' earned Molosi a publication deal by Mantle Books for ''We Are All Blue'', ''Motswana: Africa, Dream Again'' and ''Blue, Black and White'' in 2012.
[Donald Molosi's winning plays captured in one volume](_blank)
Botswana Guardian. Retrieved 10 September 2017. Molosi's Broadway credits include ''Motswana: Africa, Dream Again'' (2012) and ''Damn Yankees'' (2004). His Hollywood engagements which are not limited to ''A United Kingdom'' (2016) with
David Oyelowo
David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo ( ; born 1 April 1976) is a British actor, director and producer. His accolades include a Critics' Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards as well as nominations for two Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards ...
,
''Given'' (2009), ''
Green Zone
The Green Zone ( ar, المنطقة الخضراء, translit=al-minṭaqah al-ḫaḍrā) is the most common name for the International Zone of Baghdad. It was a area in the Karkh district of central Baghdad, Iraq, that was the governmental ...
'' (2007), with Academy-Award winner
Matt Damon
Matthew Paige Damon (; born October 8, 1970) is an American actor, film producer, and screenwriter. Ranked among ''Forbes'' most bankable stars, the films in which he has appeared have collectively earned over $3.88 billion at the North Ameri ...
, and ''Breakfast in Hollywood'' (2006), with award-winning actor
Paul Boocock of ''
Law & Order'',
is expanding his acting career.
In a 2012 interview with the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
, Molosi described his work as "critical love letters" to humanity.
'' has considered Molosi's acts as "inflamed with passion," especially his captivating portrayal of a Ugandan child soldier in his one-man show, ''No Idea'' 2010.
'' in 2016 for his stellar contribution to the Nation for Arts and Culture. He was also honoured in 2014 as one of the 40 most influential people under 40 in Botswana in St. Louis 40 Under 40 List for his ''Blue, Black and White'' play. ''Blue, Black and White'' stands according to the ''
'' as the longest-running one-man show in the history of Botswana.
and the Federation of European Carnival Cities.
The accolades of ''Blue, Black and White'' is ever expanding as Molosi reprised his role as
's United Solo, the world's largest solo theatre festival.
Currently in Africa, Molosi's ''Blue, Black and White'' play is being performed in arts festivals in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Molosi runs his own theatre company called Folktale Theatre Company, premised on giving
youth a creative outlet and he has been dedicated to promoting ''GAMBIT: Newer African Writing'', an anthology of African short stories in which Molosi's ''Back To Love'' is published.
Additionally, a New York City publishing company, Mantle Books has published Molosi's anthology. His anthology has earned the praises of renowned African writers such as
.
, on 25 May 2017. The following day it debuted throughout Africa on
. This documentary carries the last televised interview with the late former President of Botswana
. The documentary has since premiered at Ditshwanelo Human Rights Festival 2017 and made its debut in the cinema on 17 August 2017 in conjunction with the
's first visit to Botswana. The conference was about Ubuntu/Botho, an African way of life that the documentary explores in modern Botswana.
Molosi wrote "We Have Known Ironies" piece in ''Saraba Magazine'' in 2011 to shed light on African diversity through multiple narratives that debunk the misconception of Africa as a
ic block. He delivered a keynote address at
African Performance as an Archive in 2012. In January 2017, Molosi's "Dear Upright Africa"
was published online and it called for the inclusion of African history in the African classroom. In March 2017, he was invited to TEDxGaborone, where he expanded his grand idea of African History inclusion in school curriculum starting from Botswana and extending across Africa. Subsequently, he officially delegated the Upright African Movement on 19 August in Gaborone, Botswana during the Mind and Life Dialogue with the 14th Dalai Lama.
The Upright African movement is a campaign to raise awareness about the absence of African history in the African classrooms.
Through inter-generational dialogue with leaders, influencers and members of the public in Africa and around the world, the movement seeks to facilitate the necessary conversations and actions toward the ideal of a liberated African curriculum.