BRUNCH CONVERSATIONS

With and about women of song

The Women of Song Concept brunch was held this Tuesday. The event brings together women in the creative sector from different backgrounds and it converged at the GICC in Gaborone.

The brunch came ahead of the Botswana International Music Conference which starts on Wednesday. The concept of the Women in Song dates back to 2016. And eventually saw the light of day when Nono Mzimela, Mpumi Phillips and Thuli Mvelase approached Seabelo Modibe in Durban at a music conference. The trio had tried to seek audience with various people who were not forthcoming. They decided to whisk him to a restaurant where they sold the idea to him. And the rest as they say, is history.

The story of how these women turned each and every stone that they came across to finally get this event running, is something that needs to be celebrated for they did not give up at the first sign of challenge. Another key figure who needs to be hailed for his efforts to break barriers in the creative sector happens to be Modibe, who never shies away from any challenge.

The turnout for the maiden event was not as one would expect, but the calibre of panelists, and the actual content was top notch. The landscape is changing, and that those who are not ready to adapt to the now will be left behind. Sharing powerful testimonies of how they got to sit at the table with big names in the corporate and music world, it became clear that women across the world are making waves. Panelists included Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association President ( BEPA), Zenzele Hirschfield, Mpho Sebina who recently returned from Texas, USA where she performed at the annual AFRIMMA awards, DJ Jam- N- I, Kelly Ramputswa- Tlale former, Yarona FM Station Manager, now heading the new University of Botswana radio station, Manaileng Maphike ( Founding Member of Women in Music, South Africa), Mpumi Phillips ( Director of Distribution, The Orchard, SA), and Norma Mzimela ( Marketing & Communications Officer for Kwazulu Natal United Music Industry Association).

Other speakers at the workshop were Obonye Malope ( Marketing & PR Expert, and the Executive Director of EYNOBO Consultancy), Valentine Gaudin- Muteba ( MD for Trace South Africa), Temi Adeniji ( MD for Warner Music Africa), Charlotte Leah Bwana ( Director of Brand and Media Partnerships for Audiomack), Reba Shai ( Focalist Manager at 18 Area Music) and Journalist, Sharon Mathala.

For local women, this was the right platform for networking with the right people. Gone are days where those who are in the creative sector make music for local audiences only. It is commendable to note how creatives such as Mpho Sabina are doing incredible things outside the country. This is because when they make music or release any music, they are making universal music.

Dato Seiko, a very passionate and hungry creative sat through the proceedings and asked the right questions. Others who were also present at the event were Nono Siile, Kearoma Rantao, Nnunu Ramogotsi- Neill, Charma Gal, and a few other women from the industry.

Valentine Gaudin- Muteba ( MD for Trace South Africa) spoke of the importance of networking, and how through networking, she secured her dream job. Born in France, she and her then boyfriend, now Husband met the Head of Programme for Trace, at a party in Paris. That chance meeting opened doors for her as the Head of Programming connected them to the CEO, and the rest is history. When Trace opened a new office in South Africa, she had a chance to come and set up shop, starting everything from scratch.

Officiating at the event, the Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry, Beauty Manake hailed the conference as it is a platform for both young and old women in the performing arts to discover and nurture their talent. She has also hailed the conference’s ability to attract international guests from outside the country including the USA.

“Hosting the conference aligns with our aspirations of making Botswana a leading destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions,” she said.

She further said that the recent development within the creative sector reflect the government’s long term support of the industry.

“I am confident that the industry will soon reap the rewards for those who relentlessly work for it. The creative sector has lucrative value chains and untapped opportunities that women and youth can harness. It is through events such as this one, that we can get exposure of these opportunities,” she said.

She further highlighted that recently, her Ministry hosted the Global Expo 2022, where Afreximbank assured them of financial assistance amounting to about $ 500million. The investment, she said is to convert Botswana into the creative and art centre of the African continent.

She also pointed out that the Government has recently launched three BTV channels, with one channel purely dedicated to entertainment to create a platform to propel local content upwards. “The development will be supported by enforcing 80percent quota for local artists on all media platforms. In addition, I am now advocating for affirmative action to have at least 60percent quota of local women music played in local media. This will economically empower women through royalties issued by COSBOTS,” she said.