02 Dec 2019

Mascom chief communications and public relations manager, Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego has appealed to Batswana to support the art industry.

Speaking during the Francistown Arts meeting and exhibition official opening recently, Lebotse-Sebego urged artists to work hard so that they could gain support from the public and public sector.

The arts meeting is the brain child of Mr Keoagile Bonang, who was supported by Mascom Wireless to the tune of P76 000 to start an art exhibition business.

Ms Lebotse-Sebego further said as sponsors of the art exhibition they were committed to help the artists to go an extra mile to use creativity to improve their lives.

“We would like to see art change your lives as much as we support you as the public,” she said.

Lebotse-Sebego also pleaded with the artists to use art and clean the environment by using disposed materials to create art masterpieces.

Councillor Lesego Kwambala of Itekeng ward in Area W said that supporting artists was vital in accomplishing their mission, adding that most Batswana did not utilise their talent to make a living.

“I am grateful that the Francistown Arts meeting will grow in lips and bounds in the coming years, hence I encourage everyone to give the exhibition the support it deserves,” he said.

A motivational speaker Obed Mokhuhlani, who was also the guest exhibitor, encouraged stakeholders’ partnership to produce passionate and talented artists who yearn for success.

Artist Wilson Ngoni said that there was growth in the number of artists in Botswana, saying there was also ‘so much power and inspiration that differentiate Batswana from the rest of other artists around the world.”

However, he said the problem is lack of support from stakeholders, hence their dreams as artists become useless.

For his part, Bonang said that perseverance, elastic patience, hard work and total determination yielded greater results for him.

He also thanked his team for having been supportive throughout in order to realise his dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

“It took me over two years for Mascom to sponsor my idea, hence this comes as an encouragement to the youth to never give up on what they believe in,” he said. Ends