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Auxilia Katongomara Entertainment Correspondent
BOTSWANA poet Koetshepile Motseonageng has castigated pageant ogarnisers worldwide for spreading the notion that beautiful women are the slim ones who have not given birth. Motseonageng, whose stage name is Berry Heart, said this notion had led to the abuse of women and girls by men.
Heart, who was in the country for the United Nations’ general campaign to end violence against women held at Amakhosi last week, said as a woman, she felt that some of these ideas propagated violence against women. “The beauty of a woman is not limited to her physical attributes; there is more to it, the heart and the mind.

“There is this general perception that models represent beauty, which is very wrong. Is a pregnant woman not beautiful, is a mother of one not beautiful?” she asked.

She said modelling agencies had brainwashed men to think that for one to be regarded as beautiful, they have to have a slim body.
The controversial poet who is Botswana’s United Nations Women Ambassador, uses poetry as a medium to spread the message.

“Most men target these young models and young girls as they define beauty, which has brought problems in African societies,” she said.
An eloquent speaker and talented poet, Heart, left the audience mesmerised as she recited some of her poems.
Heart is a recording poet who has three albums to her name.

She said growing up in an environment where women had no say inspired her to be a gender activist. “I grew up in Botswana where women had no say and were looked down upon. There were no women in high positions in government or even women chiefs were not allowed but I told myself that I would not  just sit and watch this,” said Heart.

The 25-year-old poet made headlines in her country, after she made a passionate public marriage proposal to Botswana President, Ian Khama.
It is reported that in her passionate plea, the raunchy poet, unashamedly declared what she would like to do with Khama between the sheets.

The poet has travelled far and wide in the campaign that uses artistes to sensitise the world on the need to stop violence against women.
“I have travelled to South Africa, Lesotho, the US, Senegal, Reunion Island and Madagascar, working with artistes on this campaign,” she said.

Heart, who will be heading for the United States of America from Bulawayo, said she was already working with Albert Nyathi on a collaboration for her forthcoming album.