05 Oct 2024

Singer and songwriter, Wada Mapiki, is the owner of a brand new VW Polo Vivo she won after finishing first in Season two of the Department of Broadcasting Services (DBS) Roadshow. The awards ceremony attended by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi was staged Friday at GICC. Her prize comes with a music video production courtesy of Ccosign267, a year’s recording and management contract with DJ Fresh and wardrobe sponsorship for a year. Wada was among five finalists from 3 000 entries registered for DBS Roadshow Season two and other four finalists were Rita Christopher, who was awarded Producers’ Favorite, Shawn Lee, who walked away with Most Dedicated, Fino Dee clinched the award of Most Creative and Versatile while Abigail Isa got Artist of Artists award. From 31 districts, 3 000 young creatives registered for the DBS roadshow and 509 were selected against a target of 310. The number went down to Top 40 then Top 20 selection and eventually reached Top five where the winner was determined. The DBS road show initiative was implemented by government, to resuscitate the creative industry post COVID-19 and to create long and short term employment for the creatives. It was also meant to facilitate artistes with platforms and pathways into the music industry, through workshops regarding the business side of the music industry as well as to create and increase content for the public broadcaster towards fulfilling the 80/20 airplay ratio. “Government used frameworks and facilities within government to enable this initiative to create opportunities for the young people. The developments and initiatives within the cultural and creative industry sector are part of the overriding commitment to transform Botswana’s economy and promote opportunities for citizen participation, wealth and job creation,” said Dr Masisi. The DBS road show, a collaborative project between government and Big Dawg Production, owned by Thato ‘Dj Fresh ’Sikwane, President Masisi said was well articulated with government’s vision to grow the creative sector and ignite Botswana talent. It is a commendable example of private sector and government partnership, President Masisi said. Both seasons of DBS road show have impacted positively on the creatives discovered and the service providers as well and with a budget of over P16m for season two, most of it, 97.5 per cent was spent on local creatives and the value chains such as hospitality, transport and logistics among others. The remaining 2.5 per cent went to Big Dawg Productions as promotional services fee. While anticipating long term returns on investment, the short term is already showing some positives with several artistes from season one already making strides in the industry. Some were nominated for the 2023 BOMU awards and a few won. The artistes are not only doing well locally, but regionally as well such as Mindset, a videographer and producer, who is now residing and working in South Africa with two of amapiano greats, Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa, Royalle, Skizo BW, KRK, Sinoh among others. From season two, 25 festivals were facilitated with 3 899 temporary jobs created, eight videographers and three photographers engaged. The roadshow activities created 1 815 temporary jobs and 897 service providers were engaged with 114 permanent jobs created under Big Dawg Productions, Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association (BEPA) and BOMU. Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng in his welcome remarks said that talent needed to be harnessed in support of livelihoods. “However, discovering our talents may require being assisted by others whose talents have already blossomed,” said Morwaeng and pointed out that the DBS road show was conceived with a special focus on developing creative talent among the youth. “The initiative has reached out to young people across the country, who have no resources to explore their latent artistic talents. It has thus provided them with great institutional help, to discover or grow their talent,” Morwaeng added. Ends