When the country’s top musicians recently began to meet each other on an unusual regular basis it got fans curious as to what is it that they could be planning , is it a collaboration song or what?, but the artists have chosen to remain tight-lipped about the meetings.
Three times in a space of a month Vee Mampezy, Charma Gal, DJ LaTimmy, Franco, Kabelo Mogwe and few others have been seen on social media engaging in non-stop meetings in Gaborone. Actually it is Vee Mampezy who is giving fans through his Facebook posts an impression that the artists are indeed working on something big.
“After a serious meeting with my brothers, taking Botswana music to another…watch the space,” the Kwaito star said recently. He later last week Tuesday posted again, “Third meeting went well, go tla binwa thata,” Vee said fuelling the curiosity.
Reached for comment traditional music sensation, Kabelo Mogwe of Culture Spears fame dodged to explain what the meetings could all be about instead referring this publication to Franco.
Mogwe refuted that they might be planning something noting that the meetings are rather meant for them to check on each other’s well being during this difficult times when the music industry has been greatly affected by the covid-19 pandemic.
“We are not planning anything, we were just meeting to check on each other as to how we are all doing…but talk to Franco he is the relevant person to speak to about the meetings,” Mogwe told The Patriot Lifestyle as he refused to get into details about their meetings.
When reached the Kwasa-Kwasa star also shot down the anticipation concurring with Mogwe that there is nothing big coming from their meetings which they are planning. According to him, the agenda is just to check on each other, share ideas and assist one another where possible. Franco argued that there is nothing that they can be planning at the moment when they are all clueless as to when the music industry is going to be fully opened following the covid-19 induced shutdown. He has however noted that going forward they will continue to meet again from time to time as artists to see how best they can improve the local music industry.
“It is not that we haven’t been meeting each other, we have been doing so it only that it was not as frequent as to today but today we are doing so because there is currently nothing that we are doing as far as music is concerned. The idea however is to continue with our meetings going forward,” Franco said.
Many artists and promoters have been frustrated by government’s delay to opening the music industry complaining that they are currently struggling to survive. Artists have further complained that government through the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development is also dragging to at least assist them with the promised relief fund packages. Artists like Franco revealed that even up to now they have not yet received anything from government.
The ministry recently revealed in a statement that over 946 applicants of the ongoing relief funding for youth, sports and culture have been paid a total of P3 030 600.00. The ministry indicated that a further P8 468 820.00 has been approved and will be disbursed accordingly. That as it may government has also this week lifted some restrictions for the arts and entertainment industry.