02 Aug 2015

President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama  has won the Transformational Leadership Award for the 2015 African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA).

The award is in recognition of the President’s contribution to the development of the arts and culture industry in the country.

President Khama is to receive the award at the second edition of AFRIMMA, which will be held in October at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Dallas, Texas.

Revealing the news, Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association (BEPA) president, Zenzel Hetchfield expressed delight that the tireless efforts made by the President to promote the arts were now being recognised. She added that the legacy he has made in the creative industry has now seen the mushrooming of  fashion designers and other music genres that were becoming extinct.

“We have a leader who sees the creative industry as hope at heart, and also sees entertainment as entrepreneurship,” she said.

She noted that President Khama  has shown a lot of interest in the growth of the arts and culture industry in the country, adding that he has devoted his time to the President’s Day celebrations which recognise talent from all corners of the country.

Also nominated for the Best Male Southern Africa Awards are two local musos, Vee Odirile Sento and Zeus who will compete against Casper Nyovest as well as another South African rapper, AKA, Zimbabwe’s Stunner, Namibia’s The Dogg, “Denial” hitmaker Donald and Zambia’s Slapper.

In the Best Female Southern Africa Awards, Botswana will be represented by the sensational Kearoma Rantao and Samantha Mogwe.

The duo are up against South Africa’s Bucie, Busiwa, Toya de Lazy, former Big Brother Africa (BBA) contestant, Zambian rapper Ice Queen Cleo and Mozambique’s Lizha James.

The AFRIMMA awards celebrate the beauty of African music and artistry.

The awards show will honour some of Africa’s top music artistes, producers and cultural influencers. Ends