14 Aug 2022

Botswana Music Union (BOMU) in partnership with Total Music Group has launched Botswana Music and Entertainment Week (BMEW) and unveiled its logo.

BMEW is a cultural week that will celebrate and promote Botswana music and culture, in a build-up to the 11^th BOMU awards.

The activities are scheduled for November 28 until December 3 when BOMU awards will be staged.

Briefing the media during the launch in Gaborone on Friday, Seabelo Modibe of Total Music Group said the P3m budget awards will be held during the BMEW week.

“The awards will be attended by local and international industry stakeholders from the recording and broadcasting space, talent buyers and managers among others,” stated Modibe, who added that there would be a pre-party for the awards.

The BMEW week will be a beehive of activities that will include traditional and folk music concert, local film and music content seminar, women in music business seminar, women of song, which is a talent showcase as well as a music conference.

Modibe said an array of local and international speakers would be facilitating the events and imparting knowledge and skills.

“We will also have a talent showcase throughout the week as well as speed meetings among others,” Modibe said.

He said BMEW was purposely hosting the activities to create an internationally recognised platform in Botswana, by local and international corporates, government, international and domestic record labels, international and local broadcasters, media houses and content creators.

He also said BMEW would give the BOMU Music Awards a global appeal and cease to be a domestic awards ceremony.

“BOMU awards should be seen to attract high profile industry personalities, business people, promoters/talent buyers as well as talent managers,” said Modibe,  adding that the BMEW would also expose Botswana music and musicians to the international market by inviting internationally recognised events and eventing companies such as Delicious, Vic Falls Carnival, Bushfire, Sauti Wa Buzara, Moshito, KZN Music Imbizo to participate in BMEW.

Furthermore, Modibe said BMEW would create both short and long term jobs for locals.

“The event will also create opportunities for external market for Botswana talent by inviting international digital suppliers of music such as Africori, Deezer, Sportify, and Ingrooves.

Giving the financial status of BOMU awards, vice president, Letsweletse Moshabi said the association had cleared the P680 000 debt that comprised legal fees and backlog payments.

He said currently, the debt was below P100 000 and he was optimistic that they would be debt free when they stage the 11^th BOMU awards. ENDs