The Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) Awards, slated for the 31st of October at the Gaborone International Convention Centre, have raised more than P1 million worth of sponsorship. Speaking at the unveiling of sponsors last week, the president of BOMU, Michael Mmusi assured revelers that the stage and tone of the awards ceremony was set, thanks to the sponsors who have hopped on board to be part of the seventh installment of the award ceremony.
The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture is the main sponsor having forked out P686 000, followed by the Department of Broadcasting Services through Botswana Television and RB2 at P438 000. The Midweek Sun has contributed about P16 130, Alias and Sons P10 500, The Grand Palm will provide the venue while other sponsors are contributing price money for winners in various categories
.Dr Vom is sponsoring the Dikhwaere category price money for P2500, South African gospel artist, Kholiwe Mpaneng, who is the face of Chande Transport, is sponsoring the Contemporary Gospel category for P3500, Crowling Holdings is sponsoring the Motswako Category for P2500, Keno Designs and Urban Soul will dress MCs for the night, Quack Media is sponsoring the Legendary award category for P 5000,Amoled sponsored Best Packaged Album for P1000 and the Best Female category will be sponsored by poetess Berry Heart.
Speaking during the unveiling, Berry Heart said; “BOMU is my home, and this year I have decided to contribute to the awards as a sponsor. I will sponsor the Best Female Artist of the Year category to the tune P10 000 because I want to recognize the women who are taking part in the arts business. Therefore, I will pay for makeup and manicure expenses for all the nominees in this category. The winner will get Berry Heart’s lingerie line and P5000. I will also be engaging a professional female makeup artist, Gwen Isaacs to do the makeup because I believe in women empowerment.”
For his part BOMU secretary, Pagson Ntsie said this year’s awards have had an overwhelming number of entrants when compared to previous years. “This year we have about 36 categories, including the new category of Best Single. I am very proud of our artists who registered in high numbers, this year we registered 160 artists from the 60 who participated last year. We will have visitors from Lesotho, South Africa and the Music Union of Zimbabwe as well as a confirmed performance by Franco among other exciting acts,” he said.
Ntsie also explained that Global Transformation and Network sponsored them for P10 500 to train members of the BOMU committee on management related matters. Taolo Moshaga, president of the National Union of Botswana Artists, welcomed the sponsorship; “These funds will go towards training BOMU members on good governance so that they run the union effectively. I feel like this is a great investment as it offers the union an opportunity to thrive.”