Afentse Fenny Lekolwane
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Afentse Fenny Lekolwane | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 17, 1981 |
| Citizenship | Botswana |
| Occupations | Film Producer, Writer, and Director |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Organization | Botswood |
| Spouse | Lawrence Lekolwane |
Afentse Fenny Lekolwane (born 17 April 1981) is a Motswana film producer, writer, and director who has been active in Botswana’s film and television industry since 2003.[1] She is one of the early contributors to the country’s film industry, having produced Flat 101, a 13-episode television drama that premiered on Africa Magic, marking her debut as the first Motswana to produce a TV drama broadcast on M-Net which aired in 2004. She co-founded Botswood,[2] a film production company with her husband, cinematographer Lawrence Lekolwane.[3]
Lekolwane’s interest in storytelling began at a young age and was shaped by African oral traditions. She was inspired by her grandmother, who regularly told stories around the fire, often combining narration with elements of singing, acting, and performance. Through observing these storytelling practices, Lekolwane developed an early understanding of story structure, character, and audience engagement, which sparked her imagination and love for narrative art.
Rather than formal training at the time, her early learning came through observation and lived experience, rooted in African modes of storytelling. She later chose to pursue formal education in film and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Motion Picture Medium, majoring in Writing and Directing, from AFDA in 2021.[4] In more recent years, she has begun attending selected workshops to further develop her craft.
Career
Afentse Fenny Lekolwane began her filmmaking career in 2003 when she premiered her first television drama titled Flat 101, which was the first Botswana-produced series to air on a DSTV platform in 2004. In 2025 she collaborated with MultiChoice where she produced Route 2.[5] film which aired on Mzansi Magic.[6]
Since 2003 she has produced more than 20 titles across film, television series, documentaries, and magazine shows, contributing to the development of Botswana’s film industry.
Her work includes Nazara, her graduation film, which won the Gold Award for Best Film and was later selected for screening at a European film festival in 2023. She also served as head writer for Botshelo Jo, Botswana’s longest-running television series, writing 156 episodes.[7]
Lekolwane is a member of the Writers Guild of South Africa and has appeared on several platforms representing Botswana’s film industry.