BOMU disburses over P900,000 to artists
The organiser of the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) Music Awards, Total Music Group has revealed that over P900,000 cash payment has been made to all nominees for the 10th edition of the BOMU Music Awards and various local companies engaged to execute the awards. This entails P300,000 nomination payments and P600,000 payments for goods and services procured from local companies.
According to BOMU Music Awards consultant, Seabelo Modibe, they are delighted to confirm that as per their commitment to pay all nominees (artists, music producers, videographers and artists managers) their nomination dues within a reasonable time, BOMU has completed disbursement of the funds.
“Each nominee received P2,500 cash payment, totaling P300,000. This is the first time in the history of the BOMU Awards for nominees to be rewarded. Equally, this is the first time that winners will be rewarded financially. We are very happy that in collaboration with the BOMU executive, we could deliver this milestone especially in such as difficult year of COVID-19. We have both made a deliberate commitment to be transparent in all aspects of the BOMU Music Awards hence we will continue to update all stakeholders on such matters,” Modibe highlighted.
He explained that in total, 120 artists and 26 suppliers have been supported through the transaction. For his part BOMU president, Phemelo Lesokwane commended the awards sponsors, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC) and the Department of Broadcasting Services for their collective sponsorship of the awards.
“MYSC’s P500,000 prize money sponsorship is purely for artists’ prize money and part of Btv’s sponsorship will go towards payment of service providers from the creative industry. We are very grateful to both partners. The money will go a long way in alleviating some of the challenges the creative industry faces due to COVID-19. The BOMU Music Awards do not only support artists but target the creative industry in totality, aligned to the mission and vision of the mother ministry, MYSC,” he said.
Lesokwane concluded that the rest of the prize money will be paid to winners post the awards which are billed for October 23, 2021.