24 Aug 2023

 Botswana’s award-winning Gospel artiste Kabelo Eric, has once again been nominated for the 2024 Re-UP Trailblazer of the year award billed for Atlanta, Georgia on April 5-6 next year.

The nomination is a result of his remarkable ability to take risks, lead with compassion, and a catalyst for change in his field, while paving a path to success.

This is the second edition of the Re-UP awards themed Cant stop, wont stop!

In an interview, Eric who bagged two awards, in June this year in the USA, for Gospel Choice Music Awards and Gospel Music Industry Award expressed  said he was  excited about the nomination saying that the final selection of these RE-UP awards will be done in October this year.

“It’s an honour to have been nominated for these awards and this is not voted for,” he said

He said the Re-UP experience was an annual nationwide award show created to recognise and honor excellence among individuals and creative for their efforts to serve their communities through their gifts or talents.

Reflecting on the contents of the nomination letter, he received the award winning local musician stated that through his talent he has illustrated the importance of constantly renewing himself in order to thrive in both personal and professional endeavours.

When asked about the influence of living in the United States had on his gospel music style and themes, he dated his journey back to 2022 when he was invited to perform at the Indie Gospel Artist showcase as a guest of the Gospel Choice Music Awards.

“Afterwards, I realised that my unique voice, which grants me a wide range of versatility and style, fits seamlessly into the US Gospel music industry,” he said.

Additionally, Eric expressed that the gospel music in the US inspired and motivated him to produce contemporary music, which appealed to his growing fan base.

Regarding his achievements, he said his local accolades in Botswana such  as winning two notable awards, the Best Performing Arts award at the Botswana National Youth Service Awards in 2008, and the Best Religious Song award at the Museke Online Africa.

On ways how he could use his platform to benefit Batswana, he said in 2022 he reached out to three gospel artistes to enter for the GCMA Awards though only one did.

He said Gospel Hip-hop artiste Mmemos was then nominated for Best Gospel Hip-hop/Rap artiste.

“This year, I reached out to five of my colleagues in the gospel music industry, at home and those in diaspora to alert them about the 2024 Rhythm of Gospel Awards in LA, USA,” said Eric.

He said the awards have the International category of which he strongly believed that gospel artistes in Botswana could  participate  and be successful.  ENDS