JOSEPH KGAMANYANE
editors@thepatriot.co.bw
Organisers of the Botswana International Music Conference (BIMC) has followed suit with their other counterparts around the globe adapting to the new normal, and have also moved on to host their annual conference virtually this time around.
The organisers revealed in a press statement that the long awaited ground breaking virtual edition of the conference will be held from the 24th to the 25th of March this year in Gaborone. This year’s two days conference will be held under the theme, ‘Life Inside and Outside the Covid-19 Bubble.’ The sixth edition comes after its 5th conference could not be held last year due to the disruptive global covid-19 pandemic which forced many similar other events to be shelved. Just like BIMC some of the events which were billed for 2020 could not instantly go digital as they still had to familiarise themselves with the new normal.
BIMC Founder, Seabelo Modibe told The Patriot Lifestyle that due to the covid-19 compliance regulations this year’s conference will only have around 30 participants as compared to their usual over 100 participants. The last attendance of the prominent conference which normally attracts both international and local participants was standing at around 200 people. The new virtual edition will however be streamed live in various social media platforms including YouTube in order to accommodate participation of other local and international audience. Modibe indicated that going forward they are expecting to continue with the virtual route as the new normal dictates.
According to Modibe, BIMC platform brings together not only musicians but also other relevant stakeholders of the industry with an aim to sharpen their understanding of the music business. “The purpose of this international event is to bring together various players of this industry in order for them to engage with each other and also learn new concept of the music industry,” he explained.
According to the release, BIMC once again will be breaking ground by bringing in exciting speakers with immense experience in the creative, music, media and many other industries they operate or trade in. Organisers says in order to make BIMC virtual edition to resonate well with Botswana audience they have roped in the likes of prominent South African DJ and entrepreneur, DJ Tira, SA based Radio Personality, DJ Fresh (Big Dawg), Zakhele Mzalazala who is the Director of African Affairs CD Baby,Karabo Moitjoane General Manager of Sheer, Sphe Mbele from the Music Imbizo. Local speakers will include among others the likes of Fish Pabalinga pf GIMC, Tonderai Tsara of Dialogue and Business Botswana, Gao Lemmenyana who is the Policy Specialist at MYSC as well as Baathusi Lesolebe, an IP and Copyright Consultant.The organisers has partnered with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development in bringing the digital conference.