The music conference has opened opportunities for most artists-Modibe
GOSEGO MOTSUMI
The curator of Botswana International Music Conference (BIMC), Seabelo Modibe, says this year’s installment, running under the theme “Music Is My Business”, will focus on making sure that the music industry re-focuses from just recording, publishing, and distribution to music commerce.
Slated for 28th until the 30th of November at the National Museum in Gaborone, Modibe revealed that this year’s conference aims to change mindsets by teaching artists to invest in their brands in order to make a living out of their music.
“The biggest problem is that artists and practitioners do not want to take responsibility for their careers. It seems we all want funding from government or the corporate sector but we are in this business to make money and enrich our families,” Modibe said.
Confirmed speakers for the fourth edition of the music conference include Paulo Chibanga from Azgo Festival in Mozambique, Karabo Motijoane from Sheer Publishing, Brad Holmes from Bassline and promoter of Africa Day Festival. They will be joined by Liz Lenjo from Kenya who specializes in Intellectual Property Law, Media law, entertainment law and fashion law, Moses Monamodi from IMPRA, South Africa, Sphe Mbele KZN Music Imbizo and Herman Kabubi who are the creative minds behind Bayimba Festival and Doa Doa Festival in Uganda.
“The conference features speakers with knowledge in Artist Management, Entertainment Law, Copyright Law, Royalty Management, Media, Event and Talent buyers and all rounder in the music industry from East and Central Africa. We have also added talent showcases and speed meetings with all the speakers that will be participating at the conference,” he said.
Founded in 2015, BIMC was formed to broaden the knowledge of music among industry stakeholders. When asked what the music conference had done for the industry in the past years Modibe said it opened opportunities for most artists including folk jazz artist, Tomeletso Sereetsi who managed to claim royalties in South Africa. “The conference is not an instant result oriented forum. The people who attend this forum need to be in the industry for the long run. The music conference is not a platform to win tenders but rather to build long term contacts that will benefit an artist and their business,” he explained.