
Katlego Kai
Kolanyane-Kesupile
ARTivist | Writer | Scholar | Designer | Performance Artist



ABOUT
Katlego Kolanyane-Kesupile has been groomed in multiple roles grounded in creative industries for almost a decade. A global speaker, writer, stylist, cultural commentator, human rights activist, educator, facilitator, designer, creative director, researcher and performer, Kolanyane-Kesupile has a penchant for outcome-driven work.
Kolanyane-Kesupile is the founder and Creative Director of the Queer Shorts Showcase festival - Botswana's first, and only, LGBT-themed theatre festival. She is a playwright and a published poet, a vocal trainer, and has also taught performance from nursery to tertiary levels. She has served as a speaker and facilitator in festivals and conferences around the world - including in Uganda, South Africa, Rwanda, USA, UK and Switzerland.
She holds a Sociology Masters degree in Human Rights, Culture, and Social Justice from Goldsmiths University in London, UK. She is a highly decorated ARTivist and humanitarian, and is driven by the intention to nurture compassion in young people and promote intergenerational dialogue in sub-Saharan Africa and across the world. She uses her theatrical training and writing as mediums to effect societal change.
"Change comes with diverse knowledge growth. I am a passionate educator as I believe that ignorance is a choice... one I wish to deter my fellow human beings from taking." - Kolanyane-Kesupile [on being an ARTivist.]
Kat Kai Kol-Kes International
Director; Gaborone, Botswana
2014 - Present
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Brand development and identity management
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Artistic export consultancy
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Event organisation, styling and coordination
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Gender & Human Rights training
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Customer Service Representative; London, UK.
2016 - 2018
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Communications
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Client facing customer service delivery
Clifton Preparatory School
Performance Workshop Leader; Francistown, Botswana
2011 - 2016
Alliance Francaise de Gaborone.
Live Event Host; Gaborone, Botswana
2014 & 2015
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Fête de la Musique Botswana
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Beaujolais Nouveau
Peolwane Magazine
Freelance Writer/Stylist; Gaborone, Botswana
2013 - Present
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Features & Profiles Writer and Stylist
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Fashion and Live Events Writer
Maru-a-Pula School
Teacher Aide/Part-Time Teacher; Gaborone, Botswana
2011-2013
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Drama teacher
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Music substitute teacher
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Alumni database monitor
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School brand fidelity monitor
Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Gregorian Chant & Classical Singer; Johannesburg, South Africa
2007 - 2010
Wits Theatres
Arts Ambassador; Johannesburg, South Africa
2007 - 2010
WORK

Photo: Neo Jasmine Mokgosi

Skills
Facilitation
Public Speaking
Writing & Editing
Production Management
Event Hosting
Vocal Training
Directing
Choreography
Theatre & Production Design
Styling & Photo Editing
Graphic Design (Adobe Suite)
Communications & Publicity
Marketing
Setswana-English Translation

Languages
English
Setswana
French
Spanish
German (Basic)
SA Sign Language (Basic)


EDUCATION
Goldsmiths University of London, U.K.
2016 - 2017
MA Human Rights, Culture and Social Justice
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Disability Rights
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LGBTQI+ Rights
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Public Space Politics
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
2007 - 2010
Bachelor of Arts, Dramatic Arts
Directing, Design and Queer Studies
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Minors in French and Spanish
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Top 15% performing students in the university
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Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship fellow.
Crawford College North Coast, South Africa
2006
Matric
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Pass with 6 distinctions
John Mackenzie Secondary School, Botswana
2001-2005
IGCSE & AS Level (Cambridge)

Extended Resume available upon request and on LinkedIn.