Hope or doom for creatives?
New Board receives mixed reactions
The Board of the National Arts Council of Botswana has finally been unveiled.
The membership of this historic Council includes both the young and established members of the creative sector.
Heading the board is former Botswana Tourism Organisation CEO, Thabo Brian Dithebe as Chairperson. Members include Tebatso Hule ( Tjoint member, a group that was very popular in early 2000), Mogomotsi Mokgosi, Lerato Motshwarakgole, Reginald Bakwena, musician Mmaphala Letsatle, and Prof. Connie Rapoo.
Other members that make up the 11- member board include representatives from Government, and these are, Joel Thuto ( MOPAGPA Representative), Dean Thabo Molebatsi ( MYSC Representative), Vuyelwa Segokgo ( MNIG Representative) as well as Keitseng Monyatsi ( MITI Representative).
This is a good development as some quarters believe that it might bring about some exciting developments for the arts. But the new board has received mixed reactions from the public and industry practitioners.
Some are not too convinced about the suitability of some members of the new board. They worry that activists and practitioners who for years have fought tooth and nail for this development are missing in the board.
On the other hand, there are those who are positive that the board’s composition is perfect and ready to hit the ground running.
Some believe that members of the new board have a solid track record, as their works speak for them. Reginald Bakwena, who is Head of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, has been cited as an example of people who truly understand the industry.
And then there is Motshwarakgole, a Botswana export to the international entertainment industry having previously appeared in productions such as Generations, Something is Cooking, Flight of the Stock, as well as Silent Witness and is also a Harvard Graduate.
Also bringing in a strong academic background is Prof Connie Rapoo, who holds a Ph. D. in theatre and performance studies from the University of California. She joined the University of Botswana in 1996 as a Staff Development Fellow and has been with UB as a Theatre Educator and Academic.
The National Arts Council of Botswana Act came into effect on the 17th of September 2020. Among other things, the Arts Council is set up to coordinate and regulate the Arts and Culture Sector, promote good corporate governance, facilitate cultural exchanges with other countries and stakeholders, advise the Government on matters relating to arts and culture, and facilitate commercialisation of arts and culture activities, among others.
In his address to Parliament on the State of the Creative Sector, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Tumiso Rakgare explained that his Ministry has, since the promulgation of the Act, been working around the clock to set up the National Arts Council of Botswana.
He said the first step was to set up the Secretariat and that to achieve this, a consultant has been engaged to develop the Organisational Structure, Job Effectiveness Descriptions, Grading and Remuneration of the employees of the Council.
“This process is expected to be completed before the end of November 2021,” Rakgare said.
The National Arts Council of Botswana Act provides for the appointment of an 11- member Board to provide strategic direction and leadership. Rakgare indicated that he has employed a transparent process in appointing the Board.
“An expression of interest was flighted by PEEPA and 148 applications were received, following which a shortlist of 15 applicants was presented to me for selection,” the Minister said.
The NAC Board will be in office for three years ending in July 2024. The Minister is confident that the board members hold good skills mix of academia, intellectual property management, Human Resource Management, Finance, and Accounting, and practical music and arts experience.
He also added that the intention is to use the Arts Council as a vehicle to drive the commercialisation of the arts in this country.
“The Council will run programmes, collaborate with associations, and enter into commercial deals. We believe this will optimise financial returns to the artists and create job opportunities,” Rakgare said.
Reached for comment, international acclaimed actor and author Donald Molosi explained that the National Arts Council of Botswana is a milestone worth celebrating. He said that some of the members of the Board are well placed and have been active in arts advocacy.
“We need to understand what a government- appointed council looks like. The wishes for fewer government representatives are interesting because this is a government project that is government overseen,” he said, adding that people might not have an understanding of what a government appointed board looks like.
“Government is delivering on what they promised last year. They did say that there will be government representatives and advocates, and we see all these people on the board,” he said, adding that if people have a desire to have a body that has fewer government representatives, the artists have the power to come up with their own initiative.
In a statement, Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association ( BEPA) shared their delight at this development. BEPA President Gilbert Seagile revealed that the industry has been longing and advocating for this development.
“We therefore would like to applaud our custodian, the Ministry, and the Minister for this development,” he said.
He said BEPA is made up of members with vast experience in the creative industry who are committed and ready to work with the new board in order to develop Botswana’s creative industry to international standards. However, they would have liked to have seen one of their own on the board.
The Botswana Musicians Union ( BOMU) Secretary- General Rasina Winfred Rasina said the Arts Council is a journey spanning close to 20 years, and that now the real work begins.
Rasina acknowledged and celebrated individuals and institutions that have been advocating and lobbying for this milestone.
Among these, he singled out Thebe Mogami, Gladys Kokorwe, Shaw Kgathi, Thapelo Olopeng, and Tshekedi Stanford Khama.
“Many of those who fought for this moment are no longer with us, but we have no doubt that their graves are filled with joy; for a sense of purpose and legacy that they have left behind.
“We remember Lekofi Sejeso, Gomolemo Motswaledi, Bogadi “Judith” Sefhako, Duncan Senyatso, Boemong Tshosa, and many of our legends who have departed this world fighting for the formation of the Botswana National Arts Council. We bow down to their Artistic Spirit,” Rasina said.
An industry expert wondered why the board did not have in its midst people that had for years been advocating for the establishment of the National Arts Council. He was suspicious that appointments to the board were politically motivated.
“Where is Phillip Segola, Nick Ndaba, and other activists such as DJ Sid,” he asked? In the expert’s opinion, Ndaba would have been the best person for the position of Chairperson.
“This board is very cold, and it is missing that hype. It lacks people that can go out there and inspire the masses, people who can confidently walk into BTV and talk openly about issues that affect the Arts without any fear,” he said.
Another practitioner, also wondered why activists such as Greatness Ditlhokwa, were missing in the mix. “The board is missing people who we look up to,” he said.
He wondered how some of the members made it into the board when they are not active in the Arts. “Some of those members are still at a development stage of their careers and do not know the daily struggles of artists and art practitioners.
“Just look at the past couple of months with everything that has been going on with Covid- 19, most of them have been silent on the struggles of art practitioners,” he explained.