06 Oct 2024

Singer and songwriter, Wada Mapiki, is the owner of a brand new VW Polo Vivo, after finishing first in Season two of the Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS) Roadshow.

The awards ceremony attended by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi was held in Gaborone on Friday.

Her prize comes with a music video production courtesy of Ccosign267, a year’s recording and management contract with DJ Fresh and wardrobe sponsorship.

Wada was among the five finalists and the other four included Rita Christopher who won the Producers’ Favourite award, Shawn Lee walked away with Most Dedicated award, Fino Dee clinched the Most Creative and Versatile award while Abigail Isa got Artist of Artists award.

From 31 districts, 3 000 young creatives registered for the DBS roadshow and 509 were selected against a target of 310. The number went down to Top 40 then Top 20 selection and eventually reached Top five where the winner was determined.

The DBS roadshow initiative was implemented to resuscitate the creative industry post COVID-19 and to create long and short term employment for the creatives.

It was also meant to facilitate artists with platforms and pathways into the music industry through workshops targeting the business side of the music industry and to create and increase content for the public broadcaster towards fulfilling the 80/20 airplay ratio.

“Government used frameworks and facilities within government to enable this initiative to create opportunities for young people. The developments and initiatives within the cultural and creative industry sector are part of the overriding commitment to transform Botswana’s economy and promote opportunities for citizen participation, wealth and job creation,” said Dr Masisi.

President Masisi said the DBS roadshow, a collaborative project between government and Big Dawg Productions, owned by Thato ‘Dj Fresh’ Sikwane was well articulated with government’s vision to grow the creative sector and ignite Botswana talent.

It is a commendable example of private sector and government partnership, President Masisi said.

Both seasons of DBS roadshow have impacted positively on the creatives discovered and the service providers. With a budget of over P16m for season two, 97.5 per cent of it was spent on local creatives and the value chains such as hospitality, transport and logistics among others.

The remaining 2.5 per cent went to Big Dawg Productions as promotional services fee.

While anticipating long term returns on investment, the short term is already showing some positives with several artists from season one already making strides in the industry.

Some were nominated for the 2023 BOMU awards and a few won.

The artistes are not only doing well locally, but regionally as well. They include the likes of Mindset, a videographer and producer who is now residing and working in South Africa with two of Amapiano greats Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa, Royalle, Skizo BW, KRK, Sinoh among others.

From season two, 25 festivals were facilitated with 3 899 temporary jobs created, eight videographers and three photographers engaged. The roadshow activities created 1 815 temporary jobs and 897 service providers were engaged with 114 permanent jobs created under Big Dawg Productions, Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association (BEPA) and BOMU.

In his welcome remarks, the Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng said talent needed to be harnessed in support of livelihoods.

“However, discovering our talents may require being assisted by others whose talents have already blossomed,” said Morwaeng and pointed out that the DBS roadshow was conceived with a special focus on developing creative talent among the youth.

“The initiative has reached out to young people across the country, who had no resources to explore their latent artistic talents. It has thus provided them with great institutional help, to discover or grow their talent,” Morwaeng added.  ENDS