Performing Arts

Spoken Word Performance

Performed at an Open Mic on 25 November 2019 at the Punchline Comedy Club in Detroit, Michigan

My friend had taken me to this Open Mic event on one of the evenings of my visit. I decided at the last minute to go on stage and perform one of my poems. I had never realized until that moment that an overwhelming majority of my poems are inspired by women. Although the performance was not in any way to impress my friend, I could not perform poems that were written for other women. So instead I chose to perform I Am...I Am From. Which now that I think of it was also written for a woman, my mother. But I suppose I wanted to share something that meant something to me with my friend. It is not my best poem, and so it was not my best performance. Even then, it was well received by the audience. My accent was especially popular with the -mostly African American - women in attendance. If I had gone alone, I would have asked for some numbers. It was liberating to share a poem about my roots, to be African in an African American space.

Elder Gaseitsewe in the original play Meet The Bensons

Performed at the 2019 Stanford African Cultural Show on 1 June 2019 at the Dinkelspiel Auditorium in Stanford, California

My only acting experience prior to this was a one line appearance on the 2014 production of West Side Story at the United World College of Costa Rica. Like with Meet The Bensons, I participated in West Side Story as a way to extend my comfort zone. My participation in Meet The Bensons was also a way to correct the skewed representation of African Culture at Stanford as a result of the overrepresentation of West Africans in the leadership of spaces for cultural exchange with the rest of the non-African Stanford. This is not to place the blame for the overrepresentation on the West Africans, in fact my participation in Meet The Bensons was at the invitation and initiative of my West African counterparts. My role was small in the plot of the story, but was huge as I used it as an opportunity to share aspects of our (Bangwaketse tribe) culture. From the way I wrote my lines, to even my choice of outfit, I sought to reflect the tension between tradition and modernity. Especially, the way this tension is reflected in the art of speech. From a few (obviously biased) audience members, I was told I was one of the best actors of the night - if not the best. Their kind words brought a smile to my face, but to me success is not from being called the best but rather from the laughter my lines inspired within the audience. Here are a few photos snapped from my 15 minutes of fame. Photos Courtesy of Ryan Jae and @nicholasphotography48

Inaugural Stand-Up Comedy Performance

Performed at an Open Mic on 23 May 2019 at CoHo in Stanford, California

I consider myself a storyteller - even my purpose in life revolves around enabling others to create and tell their own stories. Most of my story telling happens via the written form. With this performance, I was looking to continue what I started earlier in the year by sharing my stories on stage. But more importantly, I wanted to experiment with a new medium: comedy. I chose comedy because in general people from back home think I am funny enough and yet here in the US people miss over 90% of my humor. I was curious to see if they will get it if I intentionally package my presentation as something to make people laugh. They laughed enough for a first time standup performance: most likely at me than at my jokes. My performance commented on the importance of informed consent in interpersonal exchanges, the recent college admissions scandal, and served as a reflection on being an international student at Stanford over the past 4 years. I will try again!

Spoken Word Performance

Performed at an Open Mic on 16 March 2019 at CoHo in Stanford, California

I performed On A Bench Under The Moon, Giving Shame A Voice, and Beside You; in that order. I wove them into a narrative that was a reflection on reconciliation in love, mending a broken heart, and learning to love again. Most of my poetry is inspired by love more generally, and romantic love more specifically. It was fascinating to share these parts of myself with strangers, and to watch as they had the intended emotional reactions at different points of the performance. I should write more and perform more.

Read Book Excerpt

Performed at an Open Mic on 3 March 2019 at CoHo in Stanford, California

I read an excerpt from my memoir. I chose to read the section where I reflect on my mother's illness. Reading it out loud in public, made me question whether or not I really want to publish the memoir once it is complete. Most likely, the memoir will be for my family only. To be passed on from generation to generation, but never to be shared with the world.

Rap Performance

UWC Costa Rica Class of 2014 Farewell Pool Day

Accompanied by BCS who sang the chorus and with Eminem's When I'm Gone beat in the background, I spit a few bars to bid my second years farewell in Costa Rica. When I was a teenager, I was known as G-RaM. I considered myself a rap icon in Kanye.

Doc in West Side Story

Performed in 2014 at the United World College of Costa Rica in Santa Ana, Costa Rica

This was my first acting role. Perhaps because of my personality and old soul, I was cast as one of the adults in the show. My role was simply a speaking role. I did not need to sing or dance in this musical. So I was able to focus on nailing my few lines. It was a great success, if I say so myself.

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