Samantha Mogwe joins Recording Academy
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday July 18, 2025 15:04
In a press release issued recently, she explained that the move marks a significant and deeply personal milestone in her journey as a creator, advocate, and cultural leader. She also said the invitation places her among the global collective of professionals who determine the nominees and winners of the GRAMMY Awards, one of the highest recognitions in music.
She further pointed out that the honour not only affirms her contributions to music and the broader creative sector but also puts her at the forefront of conversations shaping the future of the industry. She is now the second Motswana artist to be inducted into the Academy, following in the footsteps of her friend and fellow artist, Mpho Sebina.
“This is more than recognition. It is about representation. It is about pulling up a chair, not just for myself, but for Botswana. For African women in music. For the ones building from the ground up, often unseen but never unfelt,' she said.
As a voting member of the Academy, she said she will now celebrate artistic excellence across every genre through the GRAMMY Awards process, collaborate and exchange knowledge with global peers and leaders in music, advocate for industry-wide reform around fair pay, creator rights, and education, and contribute to the Academy’s year-round programming and policy-shaping initiatives.
She added that her appointment comes on the heels of her recent work through Nala Project Masters and the ongoing Tune Into Empowerment programme (funded by CIPA’s Levy on Technical Device Fund), both of which champion structured, meaningful support for women in the music business.
“To be one of the voices voting in the GRAMMYs is surreal. But what excites me more is the opportunity to connect, shape new pathways, and advocate for the future of African music from inside the room. I do this for every young Motswana who dares to dream,' she concluded.