Cash-strapped GIMC lines up big shots

Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday May 10, 2019 14:42

 

The organizer, Thapelo Fish Pabalinga told Arts and Culture that the event continues to experience growth despite challenges. He stated that the line up is testimony to the growth and what the event is all about. Pabalinga said although organising such a big event has proven to be expensive, its popularity is beyond borders has kept them going.

“It is a very good concept although costly because sponsorship is a challenge, we are always doing it. It has grown very well and accepted both in Botswana and outside borders. The event caters for everyone,” he added.

Amongst the sponsors include Hunters, Trace TV South Africa, and Air Botswana.

“Sponsorship is never enough. We need more organisations such Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO), Brand Botswana, MYSC, KBL, mobile phone network providers as well as fast chain stores to come on board as well because this is a big opportunity for them to make money and market their products,” he said.

Pabalinga also said GIMC is the people’s event so as it offers what is of interest to people. “Throughout from January to April, we start talking with patrons about whom to bring and they come up with a big list of professional artists from which we choose”, he highlighted. Pabalinga said they take artists who take their work seriously every year but sometimes such capable people are not available.

This top festival takes place from August 31 to September 7. Once more they have announced an artist line-up that reflects the festival’s identity as a uniquely African, he disclosed.

Fans of the festival were thrilled when the line-up was announced. Some of them said on social media that they are already making plans of coming back. The popular annual musical spectacle has over the years prevailed as one of the biggest events in the calendar year of the country’s arts industry, but it could get even better this time.

Whilst the GIMC is a multi-disciplinary annual event that has the jazz component, music festival, champagne picnic, poetry, choral, comedy and theatre, the jazz and music festival are always the biggest attractions.  This could be justified by their line-ups. They have in the past attracted the biggest crowds.

The GIMC jazz event scheduled for August 31 has popular South African Afro pop group Mafikizolo, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Bongo Maffin. The likes of Motlha, Charma Gal, Ndingho Johwa, Trinity Mpho, Thabang Garogwe and Khoi San are some of those who are pushing the limits of performance.

For the music festival at the National stadium on September 7, A-Reece, Black Motion, Shekinah, ATI, Franco, Vee Mampeezy and Team Distant top the list of cutting edge artists. Tickets for all the disciplines’ events are already on sale.