Tebby to reap over P700,000 from Domkrag deal

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Tuesday January 12, 2010 00:00

 

The deal will see Sethomo, popularly known as Tebby in local music circles, recording 45 constituency albums plus a 'Thank You' album for the BDP to celebrate their 2009 general election victory.

Yesterday, BDP Executive Secretary Dr Comma Serema would not reveal the details but disclosed that they would release a  ' re a leboga', with Tebby, to celebrate the party's electoral successes last October. ' Another album will soon be out, it will be called Re a leboga Batswana (we thank you Batswana). It will be released by our office (the headquarters).'

Mmegi understands that the various BDP constituencies, 45 in all, will release their own recordings with Tebby. Mmegi has further gathered that work has already started with 12 albums for some of the 45 BDP constituencies already being recorded at two Gaborone studios.

Asked whether there would also be different celebratory albums for constituencies, Serema was cagey but said: ' Individual MPs may have their projects, but I can confirm that the office is releasing their own celebratory music project...we were very happy with what Tebby did for us during the run-up to the general election.' Serema, who is still on leave, said this in a mobile phone interview.

Tebby refused to shed light on the new projects she has been commissioned to do, claiming that doing so might jeopadise her chances.

However, Mmegi is reliably informed that the 45 BDP constituencies are paying the singer P15, 000 each through their MPs, to produce individual constituencies albums. That deal will give Tebby a cool P675, 000, while the headquarters is expected to pay her a further P35, 000 for the celebratory album. This is the figure Tebby quoted the party when she was commissioned to do a music album for the BDP ahead of the general election last year.  That would give Tebby P710, 000, excluding funds accruing from the sales of the 45 albums, and the main BDP Re a Leboga Batswana album.

The general election album proved to be so popular, further earning Tebby hundreds of thousands of Pula, after the party allowed her to distribute the album and bag any funds realised.

Tebby yesterday would not disclose figures but only said the album was a massive success on the market.  Tebby became the busiest local artist during the election year, as she performed at over 10 BDP rallies, where she also urged people to vote for the BDP.

It was at these rallies that Tebby's BDP album was well received. She was also paid appearance fees at each BDP event.

Serema however says they allowed Tebby to keep the album royalties as part of their empowerment initiative. Tebby quit her teaching career last year after the release of the BDP  election campaign album, where she sings that President Ian Khama is God's gift to the nation. She also sings about the past presidents, Festus Mogae, and Sir Ketumile Masire, and the BDP.