Musicians' 2009 Wishes

EPHRAIM KEORENG
Staff Writer | Monday January 12, 2009 00:00

 

The Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU), a body responsible for representing the interests of musicians, has however, been buffeted by problems such that last year the organisation even failed to hold the prestigious BOMU awards. As the New Year begins, musicians and other interested parties, especially music fans, are optimistic that the new year will bring better fortunes for the music industry. Kwasa-kwasa musician, Alfred Mosimanegape, has a gripe with the new liquor laws, which he says, have largely affected the way they do their business.

'In the new laws, we are given a permit that says you should perform only for four hours, that is from 7 pm to 12 midnight. It is unfair to expect us to make a living working four hours whilst other people in other industries are given the mandatory eight hours. We expect BOMU to engage government on this matter as it directly affects our business and lives,' he said. Disunity among musicians is also affecting the music industry, observes Mosimanegape. He says that if they were united, together with BOMU, they would lobby government and other stakeholders from a stronger position. The other thorny issue that he would like BOMU to tackle is that of music products' prices like CDs, DVDs and cassettes.  He complained that some musicians are selling at very low prices.

'This is killing us. Can you believe they are selling a cassette at P3 a copy. Some of the musicians are not interested in making money, they just want to be popular,' he said.
He also wished that BOMU could address some radio stations, whose disk jockeys look down upon unknown musicians.

'They would tell an upcoming musician who comes for an interview, to wait first, saying they are overbooked only to give it to a popular musician who just came late to their station. It is unfair and is stifling growth,' he said.

Jeff Matheatau says that as the year starts he expects the BOMU inner circle to unite before they can go and address musicians and other stakeholders on issues pertaining the music industry. He feels last year BOMU failed in its mandate due to disunity.

'They lacked a unity of purpose and spent a lot of time fighting over personal issues,' he said.  Astley Gops, whose real name is Gopadileng Gopadileng, said that BOMU should help develop the welfare of musicians. He said that musicians make large amounts of money and fail to manage it, hence they end up poor.

'There are a lot of musicians who made their names and cash only to plummet into poverty due to mismanagement of money. I think we need to be workshopped on how to handle money. BOMU should also encourage musicians to have life insurance cover,' he said.

Kangangwane Mogocha, popularly known as Dr Vom, said that he does not recognise the existing BOMU committee, because he does not know  how it was voted into office. The muso, who is known for his Thobane scorcher, is pessimistic of the organisation.

According to him there cannot be anything positive coming from an organistaion whose committee was not voted procedurally.

Dikakapa traditional group member Donald Kgwadi is also pessimistic. He said the organisation has been weakened by infighting among musicians and 'we are looking at them (BOMU committee) to improve the music industry. It is our only hope of advancing musicians' cause,' he said.

Earlier this week BOMU chairperson Socca Moruakgomo told Showtime that his committee is meeting next week Tuesday to draw the action plan for this year. 'After the meeting I would tell you what we intend to do this year,' he told this reporter.