16 Jan 2022

Traditional muso, Ditiro Leero has described the Dubai Expo 2020 as a great opportunity for artists to promote Botswana tourism and showcase their talent to the international community.

Ditiro, Lizibo and Ntirelang Berman were part of a cultural exchange programme at the ongoing Dubai Expo, which boasted participation of more than 190 countries and presented a chance for participants to exhibit various arts and crafts, skills and products.

The pint-sized artiste lauded the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development and Botswana Investment and Trade Centre for a valuable experience that could boost the country’s economy.

“We are grateful for such an opportunity because not only did we use it to showcase our culture, we also interacted and bench-marked from international artistes taking part in the Expo,” Ditiro told BOPA in an interview recently.

He said such interactions could pave way for inter-cultural collaborations, thereby boosting profiles of local artistes.

Ditiro said the experience was an eye opener, especially on issues of branding and product packaging for artists to position themselves well enough to compete internationally.

He said he learnt that professional branding on social media could go a long way in attracting business for artists.

He was optimistic that the trip would enhance their profiles and underscored the need for Batswana artists across genres to collaborate and sell Botswana to the outside world.

“The trip made me realise that we should collaborate and sell our country to the world.

We also need to cater for international audience who do not speak our language, but like our music,” he said. Ends