01 Dec 2020

Founder and director of My Star music talent search show, Keabetswe ‘Master Dee’ Sesinyi, has decried lack of sponsorship for the My Star show.

Speaking in an interview recently,  Master Dee said the show had been running without sponsorship since 2017, adding that he was currently financing it.

Since its inception in 2006, Mascom has been the major sponsor and Choppies came on board in 2011, making the two major sponsors.

However, according ot Master Dee, they terminated their contracts in 2016, citing the need to end the relation so they could assess other upcoming activities for possible assistance.

Master Dee painted a gloomy picture, lamenting that lack of sponsorship had financially disadvantaged the day to day running of the show and related logistics.

He cited reduction of number of contestants, lack of countrywide travel for auditions, revealing that for the current season, they only conducted auditions in Gaborone and Francistown.

He said they also conducted auditions very late in September, instead of January and the show was broadcast on Botswana Television for only two months as opposed to the initial six months, before the grand finale.

Also, he said COVID-19 pandemic protocols reduced the elimination zoning from top 20 to top 12, adding that so far six had been eliminated, while the other six were still in the competition.

“Next week, we are to eliminate the other three so as to remain with the top three who will battle for the grand finale to be held on December 12,” he said.

He also said due to the pandemic, recordings were done without public attendance; as such they also lost out on gate takings.

Meanwhile, Master Dee appreciated continuous support e Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development.

He said since inception of the show, government had sent 28 contestants from My Star to different universities locally and internationally, to study music and other creative related courses.

He further said some former contestants of the show had been incorporated into the show as judges.

He said Amantle Brown, Kitso Selato and Motswafere Sithole have volunteered to be judges for the current season. ENDS