Musicians get chance to shine

JWANENG - Local promoters and musicians have been given a chance to shine for the first time by Itekanele Health Scheme.
The scheme and local promotion companies, Diaduma International, Zen Promotions and Gilbert Promotions have teamed to host an event dubbed Summer Splash Show at the Duma FM premises in Gaborone North on Saturday.
The show aims to afford local artistes an opportunity to bask in the spotlight and demonstrate to the visiting foreign groups the abundant talent inherent in Botswana. It will feature some of the high-profile musicians from South Africa and Botswana.
The South African camp include Bleksem of How low can you go fame and channel Os Kabelo Ngakane,popularly known as KB who was also the popular Big Brother Africa reality show manager for two consecutive seasons.
Zeus who shot to fame as a result of his song, Super Hot skin as well as Juju boy, Stagga and Scar, will represent the local scene. RB 2 DJ Oneal will be behind the turntables.
Scar made headlines when he was selected to judge the respectable MNet East Africa Idols last year, just some months after winning the Channel O award.Tops Masole owns Diaduma International while Zen Promotions is Zenzele Hirschfieldts brainchild. Gilbert Seagile is the director of Gilbert Promotions.In an interview, the seasoned promoter, Gilbert said the outdoor event would depict the credibility of promoters found in the country.
He said due to some unscrupulous promoters their industry is shunned by many such as venue owners while the music fanatics have lost trust in some promoters.
The promoter said they want to nip in the bud the negative perception by staging an event that will be highly memorable.
Gilbert said Summer Splash would challenge and empower upcoming promoters and improve the integrity of promoters in the country.
He said such events are likely to earn them joint partnership in other countries such as South Africa, which is currently preparing to host the World Cup.
The organizer said the event would allow local musicians to gain new skills as they rub shoulders with the experienced foreign groups.
Gilbert said that through the Botswana Entertainment Promoters Association (BEPA) formed some years back, he is certain that Botswana would produce reliable and up market promoters.He said currently there are few promoters who can execute major events and said it is the time they perfect their business skills to position themselves among the best in the continent.
The promoter said the entertainment industry could engage varied skills such as musicians, dancers, caterers, fashion designers and sound producers to enhance their level of production provided the event is run more professionally.
He said they hope that one day they would be engaged to promote some of the top of the class national events.The event starts at 4 pm and patrons have to part with P60.