08 Jun 2022

The third Gospel Music Awards promise to be exceptional as organisers for Botswana Gospel Music Awards (BOGMA) and Annual Gospel Music Awards have come under one banner to hold a single event billed for Molapo Piazza on August 27.

The two companies will honour artistes, groups, producers as well as media who have been supporting the word as well as praise and worship over the years on the night. 

“The compromise to have one company running the Gospel awards came about in an effort to grow and develop Gospel music in this country,” said one of the directors of the Gospel Music Awards Phempheretlhe Pheto during the press briefing in Gaborone on Tuesday. 

He said both parties had the interests of the industry as well as that of artistes.  

“These will be the third annual awards, as both companies had previously held two awards,” Pheto said.

He said coming together to run and organise the awards wwould lessen the troubles of acquiring sponsorship and partnerships from investors.

With an estimate of P1.5m towards these awards, Pheto said submission of works by artistes would be opened from June 7 and at Gaborone Hotel. 

Pheto said nominees for the awards would be revealed in due course, where fans would be able to vote for their favourite artistes.

 He said these awards intended to celebrate the gift of music and honour the outstanding work by the Gospel industry.

The awards categories include Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Male and Female, Best Group, Best Newcomer, Best Producer, Best Collaboration, Best Music Video, Best Packaged Album, Best Traditional and Contemporary Album as well as Clap and Tap alongside Media awards. 

Pheto further said the awards would be in prize money. 

“The prize money for the winner is P1 500 while nominees will be rewarded with P500 each,” said Pheto.

The organiser said as such no one would go home empty- handed. 

He said rewarding artistes with money was a milestone for the newly established Botswana Gospel Association aimed at growing and developing the Gospel music genre.

One of the organisers Joel Keitumele said the Gospel music had shown significance growth in the past years.

“We have seen our Gospel stars staging live shows and even collaborating with renowned Gospel artistes from African countries such as South Africa and Nigeria,” Keitumele said.

He said the association ensured quality in the Gospel music, which he also said was competitive across the region and internationally. 

Keitumele appealed for sponsorships and partnerships to realise a successful event. 

He said this year’s awards promised the best quality production for the patrons as well as the recipients.   

Keitumele said they planned to embark on robust marketing for the awards and appealed to stakeholders to be part of this event that is anticipated to leave a mark in the hearts of Gospel lovers. 

Botswana Gospel Association president Vusi Botshelo applauded the two companies for uniting, saying such would enable them to stage an unforgettable event.

He said the decision showed maturity, adding that while the unity would benefit individual Gospel artistes, it would also contribute significantly to the growth of the industry. BOPA