The National Arts Council of Botswana (NACB) has officially appointed Mr. Gaokgakala Daniel Lemmenyane as its new Chief Executive Officer. Lemmenyane is a seasoned arts administrator, cultural policy expert, and resource mobilisation strategist with over 15 years of leadership experience across the creative sector, academia, government, and international institutions.
Lemmenyane holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from the University of Cape Town, a Master of Arts from the University of Witwatersrand, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Wits University. His academic background underpins a career focused on building sustainable arts ecosystems, combining artistic literacy with institutional management and policy expertise.
His professional journey includes six years as Director of Maitisong Theatre and Maru-a-Pula School, where he managed operations and led sponsorship-driven programming. He conceptualised and produced major events, including the Maitisong Festival, Mascom President’s Concert, and Barclays’ Madi Majwana project, demonstrating strong corporate partnerships and innovative arts programming.
In academia, Lemmenyane served five years at Wits University as Head of the Arts Department and lecturer, contributing to teaching, research, and institutional strategy. He is a founding member of Drama for Life, an international programme that integrates creative methodologies into education, health, and social justice.
Lemmenyane also has direct industry experience, having worked for four years as a UNICEF Botswana Consultant. He led productions such as the adaptation of MTV’s Shuga Down South, gaining insight into the challenges faced by creative entrepreneurs, including procurement issues, delayed payments, and intellectual property management.
At the policy level, he served as Arts & Culture Policy Specialist in the former Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport & Culture Development, overseeing departments including Visual Arts, National Celebrations, and the Youth Broadcasting Channel (NOW!). He contributed to post-COVID recovery programs for creatives and played a key role in establishing the inaugural NACB Board.
Most recently, Lemmenyane was appointed Advisor to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Education, Science, Technology & Innovation (ESTI). In this senior role, he managed strategy, stakeholder engagement, and partnerships with AU organs, Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and international partners, expanding his diplomatic reach and global networks.
With Lemmenyane as CEO, NACB is positioned to strengthen Botswana’s creative and cultural sector, focusing on digitisation of art collections, content monetisation, and international collaborations. The Council looks forward to leveraging his experience, leadership, and vision to drive growth, innovation, and sustainability in the nation’s arts ecosystem.
