BOMU Chief Blasts Presidential Awards

By Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe
Staff Writer | Monday October 5, 2009 00:00

 

Super group Culture Spears were given Presidential Certificates of honour. Legendary folk musician George Swabi was also honoured. It was the first time that recording musicians were recognised by the President, while in the past the honours were bestowed posthumously on Ratsie Setlhako. Judith Sefhako, a cultural activist and traditional music coach, has also been honoured in recent years.

Speaking at the announcement of the nominees for this year's BOMU awards however, Modibe told about 200 musicians that BOMU had nothing to do with the selection of musicians, and that his organisation was not invited to the occasion. Modibe said BOMU was still in the dark as to how the selections of musicians for the presidential honours were arrived at, adding that they often wonder who submits the lists. He did not reserve any praise for the award recipients, but appeared to dismiss the whole thing when he told the musicians that they should not bother BOMU with questions regarding the presidential awards.

Modibe said he used the BOMU award nominations event to comment on the presidential awards because it is the only forum BOMU has, as they do not know the organisers of the presidential awards of honours. Meanwhile, musicians were also informed that their reaction to a newly secured life policy has been disappointing. Modibe said the number of musicians who have registered for the insurance policy is negligible. He also told the musicians that BOMU is on the verge of announcing a medical aid scheme tailor-made for musicians.