18 Apr 2022

Fancying local products over foreign made ones can boost local artists to grow and create more job opportunities. 

To witness change within the local creative industry Batswana have been urged to change their mindset of shunning locally made products.

This was made by Thuso Palai from Botswana Investment and Trade Center (BITC) during a workshop for Creative Artists held in Molepolole.

 Palai who is the director in brand management, indicated that purchasing more local products had potential to grow the creative industry.

The director also encouraged artists to appreciate their work and show consistency in what they do so as to gain more support from the locals.

He also pointed out that it was important for artists to brand and package their products in an appealing and dignified way.

“This will add more value and attract more sales,” he said.

A board member of the National Arts Council Botswana, Mmaphale Letsatle also encouraged the creators to value and appreciate their craft.

“In order to have a sustainable future, you must utilise your time in building and rebranding your craft,” she said.

Letsatle highlighted that artists should know that the creative industry was also important to the economy of the country as it contributed a larger share in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

She also added that artists should know that they were powerful creative entrepreneurs with scarce skills that contributed to the country’s  GDP.

Also presenting at the workshop, the acting Documentation distribution manager Of Copyright Society Botswana (COSBOTS), Patrick Matlapeng urged artists to register their crafts with COSBOTS so as to protect and monitor their works.

He added that registering with COSBOTS ensured that creators realised benefits of their hardwork.

“You will be given the deserved profits, dignity and recognition,” he said. 

Matlapeng also indicated that they had been benchmarking tarrifs from other African nations to ensure that local innovators equally benefitted good royalties for their works. Ends