14 Mar 2016

Kabiosi, a song by Botswana’s gospel star, Kabelo Eric has been nominated for the upcoming KORA awards to be held this month in Namibia.

Eric is a well known local gospel star who is always content and proud to lift up the country’s flag in various international awards through his talent and rich voice in music.

The Sikwane-born star is selected to participate in the category of “Best male spiritual music of Africa with his track Kabiosi dance.

This year the KORA awards will be held in Windhoek at the Country Club Resort on 20 March, and if he wins the musician will walk away with P250  000 and a trophy.

In an interview, the gospel star said he was hopeful of scooping the prize if Batswana support him, adding that it was an honour to receive invitations as it shows that local artistes were recognised outside the country, and that it proves the development and growth of local artistes.

He said for him to get a chance of winning the prize, he needs unfailing support from all the people in the country and beyond, further stating that even support from local television stations and the media would be helpful to alert the people of voting procedures and share information about the awards.

The gospel star said he was prepared to put the Botswana flag on the map as this year the country was also celebrating 50 years of independence hence he would raise the country’s name  as he has always done.

Last year the star was invited to perform in Zimbabwe after he received an invitation to attend the SADC Green Expo. Furthermore, the gospel star was appointed the KORA Goodwill Ambassador for the Ebola campaign and he has various local and international awards under his name.      

 Some of the awards he won include Best Performing Arts Botswana National Youth Service Awards (2008). He was also nominated Best male gospel BOMU awards 2007, top outstanding young person’s world awards- Humanitarian leadership 2009 and Museke  Online Affrotainment Music Award for best religious song in 2011.

Eric said he was happy about the exposure he gets outside the country, and was humbled to lift the country’s name up among other nations.   

 He noted that the downloads that would allow people to vote for their favourite artistes would begin at the same time as the voting process.

He said for him to win the prize and lift the country’s flag up, people should support him through voting for him by sending “KORA 87” to 33320  when in Nigeria and Namibia while those in Botswana and international voters should send to  “KORA 87” to +248 98 4000.

The KORA awards are prestigious and rewards the finest talented artistes of the African continent and its diaspora and they started in South Africa in the cultural event dubbed the KORA All Africa Music Awards which is best known as the African Grammys. Ends