Bodiragatsi Jwame, Lentswe Lame returns
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Sunday April 24, 2022 06:00
The much-liked competitions in support of the local creatives come back after a one-year absence. The competitions were initiated in 2020 when the creative industry endured the most frustrating period due to COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, FNBB made a nationwide call for creative arts submission in the categories of photography and videography, dance and music, virtual artists, poetry and fashion. The submissions closed on April 19 after they were extended from April 15, 2022.
Prizes for the competition ranges from P15,000, P10,000 and P7,500 for the first, second and third prizes respectively. In 2020, local filmmakers were the biggest beneficiaries after FNBB in partnership with FNBB Foundation sponsored three short documentaries to the tune of P100,000 each. The money was, which added to P300,000 in total, was part of FNBB’s P1.5 million contribution to COVID-19 relief in support of the performing arts and creative industry while the rest was distributed among other creative sectors like music, fine arts, literary arts, dance, comedy, photography, online music shows and fashion. For his part, Thapong Visual Arts Centre director, Reginald Bakwena said while their members enter the competitions on their own, they always ensure that they are ready.
Thapong hosts artists who also take part in the competitions independently just like their other counterparts. “For this one, they do it on their own. But we make sure that they are always ready. We have past competitions, which I feel prepared them for competitions such as the coming ones,” said Bakwena. He also commended the initiatives, saying they will uplift the dampened spirits of the local creatives. “They are very good initiatives of supporting the arts after the COVID-19 effects.
They are a way of acknowledging and motivating artists as well as uplifting their creative spirit. It is important for FNB to come with such initiatives because they help in discovering and nurturing talent,” he added Furthermore, Bakwena invited other stakeholders to come on board with similar initiatives to help local artists to regain their momentum as they try to recover from the disruptions of the pandemic.
The return of Bodiragtsi Jwame, Lentswe Lame initiative, comes at a time when the creative sector is still in a jubilant mood following the return of the popular President’s Day Competitions sponsored by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC).