19 May 2019

It is all systems go for this year’s edition of the Botswana Gospel Music Awards (BOGMA) which has been heralded by a website launch and announcement of nominees.

Speaking at the website launch and nominees announcement in Gaborone recently, chairperson Gloria Dzwikiti said the website would help on all issues pertaining to the awards including the announcement of nominees.

She urged the nominees to perform gospel music with passion and not for fame because that alone ruined their image and did not auger well for growth in their music. 

She noted the increased nominee registration this year as compared to the previous edition highlighting that renowned artiste, Obakeng of ‘Ho tseba Modimo’ fame, led this year’s nominees with six nominations including that for best gospel music video, best song of the year, best artist of the year, best album of the year, best gospel male artiste and best traditional gospel.

A major absentee from this year’s nominee list is arguably Mayoress Molefi who won three awards last year for best traditional gospel, best gospel music DVD and best female gospel artiste and only scored two nominations in the best song writer and best traditional gospel categories for 2019. 

Dzwikiti said she saw it fit to establish the awards as a way of growing the gospel music industry in Botswana since unlike other music genres, gospel artistes were not given much exposure. 

For his part, BOGMA’s Nkgopolang Tlhomelang decried the fact that gospel music in the country was not recognised compared to other countries.

He said it was high time companies came forward to sponsor events such as the awards ceremony.

Tlhomelang acknowledged that the Botswana Music Union (BOMU), the umbrella body for musicians, had been organising awards for many years but said for the gospel genre that did not suffice.

Gaborone North MP Haskins Nkaigwa, who is a proud supporter of BOGMA, thanked Dzwikiti for the initiative and pledged P5 000 towards the event. ENDS