Moleboge Mokgosi: Capturing Setswana Culture Through Contemporary Art

7 Min

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Born in 1997 in Gaborone, Botswana, Moleboge Mokgosi is a self-taught mixed media artist whose work gracefully balances tradition and modernity. Through her practice, Mokgosi invites viewers into a space of equilibrium—moments where daily life, memory, and cultural heritage intersect in playful yet profound ways.

Her art, which spans illustrative drawings, acrylic paintings, and digital compositions, emphasizes not only aesthetics but also storytelling. By punctuating the human drama with humor and nostalgia, she transforms ordinary objects and moments into poetic meditations on existence.

A Kalanga Woman’s Gaze

For Mokgosi, art is inseparable from identity. As a young Kalanga woman, she seeks to capture Setswana culture in contemporary form, filtering its material and visual traditions through her own perspective. Much of her work engages with everyday symbols—particularly the enamelware that has long been a staple in Batswana homes. These objects, often overlooked, reappear in her paintings and digital works as playful, whimsical motifs that carry layers of memory and meaning.

“I want to encapsulate my culture through my own gaze,” she explains. “For me, it’s about preserving these elements but also showing how they can exist in new, humorous, and modern ways.”

“Art is my passion,” she says. “I believe it’s an excellent career path for any creative who wants to share their work with the world.”

Humor, Nostalgia, and Cultural Memory

Mokgosi’s digital artwork often takes her daily Tswana life as subject matter, while commenting on the aesthetics of Tswana material culture. She seeks to increase the dynamic between artist and audience by objectifying emotions in playful and humorous ways, exploring the duality that emerges through multiple interpretations.

Her works are characterized by the use of everyday objects in which recognition plays an important role. By reintroducing these familiar items—whether enamel cups, enamel plates, or snacks like magwinya—she turns the ordinary into cultural symbols that resonate across generations.

One digital piece in particular, titled “Magwinya,” stands out as both personal and widely celebrated. The work captures the humor of everyday indulgence, using the beloved fried dough snack as a motif. For Mokgosi, Magwinya embodies her ability to approach Setswana culture with warmth, wit, and a youthful perspective—transforming ordinary items into icons of cultural identity.

Finding Poetic Meaning in Everyday Life

What defines Mokgosi’s practice is her ability to uncover poetry in the seemingly mundane. Her minimalist yet layered compositions invite viewers to pause, reflect, and appreciate the textures of daily life. Whether through a nostalgic enamel cup or a playful take on local food culture, she emphasizes the importance of seeing beauty in the ordinary.

As her career continues to grow, Mokgosi embodies the new wave of African artists who are blending tradition with digital innovation. By grounding her work in Setswana culture while experimenting with modern media, she ensures that her heritage remains vibrant, visible, and evolving.

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