NIGHTLIFE BOUNCES BACK TO LIFE ...but some things may never go back to normal
How have you been keeping up during these Covid-19 difficult times?
Covid-19 has slowed down a lot of us in the entertainment industry. It has really affected the balance in how we generate income through our business since most of us are dependent on physical shows, but I always find the good in the bad so I would say in terms of quality, online platforms, and putting in work, we have had time to grow lyrically and find innovative ways of being a part of the global space through streaming platforms.
What is the one thing you have identified that you never knew about yourself in the last year?
I have identified a lot of strengths about myself actually. Because we had a lot of time to reflect, I realised I am more of a progressive musician. I go for everything that brings results. I am consistently now spreading my creative wings and I believe the road ahead is promising.
Tell us about your music?
Well, I believe my music is always more of life lessons, which either I have gone through or people close to me have experienced. It is really relatable content that we all go through at one point in time. There is so much negativity going on in the world.
Now that the industry is opened, what can your fans look out for?
I have been spending so much time in studio and writing new content so there will be a lot more single releases from me, and definitely features as well as physical show performances - as you know we are getting into the busy festive season. I am currently working on my six-track EP to be released shortly before the album release.
How have you used social media to market your brand?
I usually try my best to work around the Internet so as to expand my brand. We usually drop new content weekly through my Youtube Channel, Rez Music BW, as well as my official Facebook page @Rezmusicbw
Have you ever been a victim of social media bullying? If yes, tell us more.
NO. I have not had any social media issues, thank God!
BACK in March 2020 the local nightlife came to an abrupt end with the indefinite ban of mass gatherings, night clubs and festivals. Last week, at the end of the State of Public Emergency (SOPE), nightlife was resuscitated.
By Friday, and indeed over the weekend, videos of packed venues and parking lots surfaced on the internet - fun lovers and night crawlers had come out to play, they had been locked up for close to 20 months.
Industry players’ pockets and indeed their livelihoods had run dry, some even came out to say they had resorted to packing their bags to return to rural areas as it was proving difficult to meet rentals in the city.
Now with the rollout of vaccines reaching the 30-year-old age cohort, it is evident that government is determined to open up the industry before the busy end-of-year holidays, but the question still remains; will things ever get back to pre-covid normal?
With shut-downs occurring throughout the world, most people relied on streaming and social media for entertainment, a trend which the local entertainers had to quickly shift and adapt to. Other industry players, too, came up with innovative ways to stay afloat. Nightclub owners changed licenses to include liquor restaurants, artists turned their brand names into clothing labels for sale while some sadly remained spectators turned into beggars.
Voice Entertainment spoke to Boogiesid - a local DJ, entrepreneur and industry expert who also wears the hat of Secretary-general (SG) of the Botswana Promoters Association (BEPA), on his opinion of whether the industry will ever go back to the ‘2019 normalcy’.
Boogie Sid admits it will take some time for the industry to return to normal. “The only danger that comes with the time we are in now is the possibility of another surge of the virus, which would then call for interventions like lockdowns and or reduction of people attending events. I will be the first to admit that we are still in a situation where the virus may surge now that the industry is opened,” said Boogie Sid
“And you see, with vaccinations, you are protected against extremities like death, it is not a cure,” the DJ further noted.
According to Boogie Sid, it may take a bit of time for most night crawlers to be fully comfortable with festivals and mass gathering events largely because of the uncomfortability of having to put the mask on throughout the show.
Commenting on the industry players’ financial debts, Boogie Sid said the situation had not reached crisis level for many.
“The industry was never credited friendly in terms of banks actually loaning out money to us, largely because our earning is occasional. The only things guys were struggling with were storage and warehouse rentals, so they maybe in arrears for that besides other personal financial struggles incurred,” he opined.
Meanwhile, the Botswana Musician Union (BOMU) has called on artists to vaccinate. “We are delighted that artists can finally host events and stage performances again. This is vital for their livelihood. We, however, encourage all artists to ensure they only host and participate in shows that are fully compliant to set Covid-19 protocols.
This is for the good of everyone, including the artist and their families. We must be seen to be responsible contributors to the nations’ socioeconomic growth, and not do anything that will compromise ourselves or any member of the public in everything we do as the entertainment industry,” reads a statement from BOMU.
For their part, the Botswana Beverages Association (BOBA) has condemned mass gatherings where Covid-19 protocols were broken like gatherings in parking lots over the independence holidays where people were seen crowded and without masks.
“We remind all that the end of the SOE is not a license to flout Covid-19 protocols, and that privilege to consume alcohol can be taken away at any time,” BOBA Chairman, Peter Noke, said.