BOTSWANA NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL OUR HOPE -BOMU

The above subject matter makes reference! 

We at the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) are thrilled and excited that finally after more than 20 years that the Botswana Creative Industry has been advocating for the formation of the Botswana National Arts Council, the foundation has now dried as brick by brick commences.

We profoundly thank the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC) for purposefully facilitating this process. We thank in particular Honourable Tumiso Ragare for ensuring that this happens not only during his tenure at the Ministry responsible for the Creative Industry, but that it happens in his lifetime. We also in the same vein of gratitude, note and celebrate many other individuals and institutions that have been for many years advocating and lobbying for this milestone. We are also indebted to; Thebe Mogami, Gladys Kokorwe, Shaw Kgathi, Thapelo Olopeng and Tshekedi Stanford Khama. 

Many of those who fought for this moment are no longer with us, but we have no doubt that their graves are filed with joy; for a sense of purpose and legacy that they have left behind. We remember Lekofi Sejeso, Gomolemo Motswaledi, Bogadi “Judith” Sefhako, Duncan Senyatso, Boemong Tshosa and many of our legends who have departed this world fighting for the formation of the Botswana National Arts Council. We bow down to their Artistic Spirit!

We note the composition of the inaugural Board of the Botswana National Arts Council. We congratulate all of them. We also remind them that the road ahead is bumpy, and that our hope is with them. Many deserving and some more competent Creative Arts Practitioners, Administrators, Researchers and Policy Drivers did not make it to the selection, but they shall, as we shall, be observing with close scrutiny. We shall differ, engage, agree, support and debate on many matters with you. All we require is that you remain within the fold and foundational purpose of the Botswana National Arts Council. We hope not to be disappointed.

Yours in the Creative Industry,
Mr. Rasina Winfred Rasina(Secretary General – BOMU)