Thato Rantao Mwosa started her own production company called SaBantu Productions, which in translation means “for the people of the African Diaspora” in 2005. She won the coveted “Emerging Filmmaker Award” at the 2005 Roxbury Film Festival for her film, “Don’t tell me you love me,” which addresses the issue of domestic violence within the immigrant community. Her first film, “Don’t leave me,” a short narrative on HIV/AIDS, was the official selection of the New York Shot Film Festival early 2005. In early 2007, she produced her third film, “The Day Of My Wedding,” which was the official selection of the 2007 Roxbury Film Festival in Boston and the Independent Film Festival in Florida. The film was broadcast on The Education Channel of Tampa, Florida in the summer of 2007. In August 2007, “The Day Of My Wedding” was selected for broadcast on The Best Shorts program on BETJ (Black Entertainment Television). Thato makes films because she loves the power of film, the power to reach into people’s emotional realms, to educate, enlighten, inspire and move them. Jamati caught up with the busy wife and mother and she filled us in on her journey as film maker.

Jamati: Tell us about growing up in Botswana. What brought you to the U.S?

I loved growing up in Botswana and being raised with African values and traditions. I miss the food, the people and the music. My family is still there and I visit as often as I can. I came to the U.S in 1997 and studied TV/Video production at Emerson College in Boston.

Jamati: When did you know that you wanted to become a filmmaker? Was this something you always wanted to do? What was your family’s reaction to your career choice?

My late father was a journalist-turned-politician in Botswana so growing up I wanted to follow in his footsteps to go into journalism. As I grew older, making films became more appealing for me because of its ability to combine both visual and audio which makes it a very powerful medium. My parents were both very supportive and encouraging.

Jamati: What was the first film you ever directed and what was it about?

The first film I did was entitled ” Don’t tell me you love me,” a film centered on domestic violence. In the film, Masedi, a young African woman is abused by her unemployed husband and she turns to poetry as a way to confront her pain. The film was well received and it was screened at many film festivals across America.

Jamati: I watched your documentary ‘An African in America’ and related so much to it. Do you think anything ever really prepares us African immigrants for life in the States and all the hardships we are faced with? I don’t even think our parents know what we face when they send us here.

Nothing can really prepare you for life in America. I think many Africans view America as the land of gold and opportunity; but it’s really the survival of the fittest. Before I came here, I watched so much American TV that I had a sanitized view of America, which shows just how much TV can skew perceptions. I was shocked to find poverty in America; the richest, most powerful country in the world. Also for many of us, race isn’t an issue in Africa because black people are a majority. Being a minority here in the US really changes your mindset and you start becoming more aware of color. I can say, with all it’s blemishes, America is a great country with diverse people.

Jamati: You won the Emerging Film Maker Award at the 2005 Roxbury Film Festival for your film ‘Don’t Leave Me’. Congratulations. Don’t Leave Me dealt with domestic violence between an African couple. Domestic violence is a serious issue and tends to be a silent issue in immigrant communities. What made you decide on making a film on this particular subject?

Thank you! The award reaffirmed my commitment to use film to educate and inspire. I was compelled to tell the story because domestic violence is so prevalent. In some rural areas in Africa, there is no such thing as divorce. Women are pressured by traditional and cultural expectations to stay in abusive relationships. In the film, Masedi somewhat represents that woman who is obligated by societal and cultural expectations to tend to her husband no matter how abusive he is. It’s a big problem! I did this film because it is my responsibility as an African filmmaker to try to highlight even the most sensitive issues through film.

Jamati: I am a huge fan of Yama’ Afrika. How did you come up with the concept?

Being an African woman living in the U.S, and a fan of shows like “Girlfriends,” and “Sex and the City,” I wanted to create a show that could capture our lives. I get upset when I see images of Africans in the Western media. We are often depicted as impoverished and desperate. I wanted to show an image of Africans never seen before; a cosmopolitan image but I wanted the stories to be real and raw, not superficial. So the concept was really easy, a show about four women from different parts of Africa confronting life in the cosmopolitan Western world. New York was an easy choice for location because it has the largest population of African immigrants.

Jamati: You cover so much with the show - green card issues, dealing with discrimination in the corporate world, religion, infidelity, and HIV to name a few. I appreciate how the show is entertaining and at the same time educating. What has the reaction been to people that have seen it?

People loved it because it’s the first of its kind. For a while there was really no show that addressed the issues of African immigrants so now people feel they can relate to some of the characters and the story lines.

Jamati: I have to ask if you have received any flack from the Nigerian community for making Yetunde the ‘tell it like it is’ character? Was it intentional at all?

Yetunde is a powerful woman. She is the one who has her life together and has a high profile job. Most corporate women loved her guts and also her straight-forwardness. I didn’t want to put too much emphasis on the characters’ nationalities because I wanted to tell African stories that cross boarders and promote African unity.

Jamati: What about reaction from the fellas? You know every time a woman makes a show about other women it is received as male bashing. Waiting to exhale comes to mind on this one. The fellas had a field day with that one…LOL.

Most of the complaints were that we were not cutting the black men any slack. However, there are some pretty positive male characters in the series. Some men just wanted to know more about the actresses.

Jamati: Please tell me that plans are underway for another season of Yama’ Afrika…I am so hooked.

We are still discussing that possibility.

Jamati: You’re a wife and a mother too. How do you balance it all?

It is very challenging, but as women we are naturally quite resilient and good at multitasking. Fortunately, I also have a very supportive husband who helps with our son whenever I am in a crunch.

Jamati: You are working on Rapping for Life and another TV show. Can you tell us about these projects?

I am currently writing an American TV show with Erickka Sy Savane based on her column titled, “Bitches Brew,” which was published in Trace magazine. The show, tentatively titled, “Uptown Girls” is about the lives of three black women in Harlem, New York. One of the women is African. It’s a dramedy, a hybrid of comedy and drama.

“Rapping for Life” is a documentary on urban musicians in Africa and how they are using their music (hip-hop) a tool for social change. I have been working on it since 2004 and I plan to complete it this year.

Jamati: Any advice for up and coming filmmakers?

Stay the course and stay focused.

Jamati: Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak to us Thato. We wish you luck in all your projects and look forward to all you have in store for us.

Thank you so much for your support.

Thato is definitely on her way! Watch ‘An African in America’ and a preview for ‘Rapping For Life’ below.