Ferguson keen to sign local actors
Sharon Mathala | Thursday June 18, 2015 18:00
Ferguson, originally from Botswana, was in the country for the ongoing Maqappella Botswana competition this weekend.
The muscular actor said that just like he is using 100 percent Botswana music on his production he also wants to use local actors/actresses.
He told Showbiz at the Maqappella Botswana auditions held at Southing Mall: “I am a huge fan of Botswana music. I have been accused of being biased in the past when it comes to local music”.
“The entertainment industry in Botswana is still at an infancy stage. It is not yet at a place where it can be fully explored further, but at the rate it is going, in time I am certain we will have stars. This is evident by the immense talent I have seen so far through the Maqappella auditions,” Ferguson said.
The Maqappella auditions will see upcoming artists battle it out for the grand prize of P30,000 and a recording deal.
Maq launched the competition in collaboration with Pick n’ Pay.
The competition will visit major centres such as Gaborone, Mahalapye, Palapye and Francistown.
Due to the immense talent discovered so far, Ferguson believed it would be difficult for him and fellow judge, Gabz FM’s Tshepo Ntshole to come down to the last 20 finalists.
He said that although the South African chapter had the numbers, Botswana has the talent.
“The talent here is undeniable. It is going to be extremely hard to narrow it down to the final spots, although a lot of contestants are focusing on freestyle, the competition has proven to be very stiff,” he said.
For one to qualify as a contestant, the individual should be a Motswana citizen above the age of 18 and have never signed any record deals.
The finals will be held at the Grand Palm in Gaborone on Saturday.