Music festivals banned in schools

CALISTUS KOLANTSHO
Correspondent | Wednesday January 27, 2010 00:00

 

Speaking in an interview, music promoter Gilbert Seagile said the decision has affected musicians and schools alike. He explained that schools used music shows to raise funds but now the situation has changed. 'The problem that we have in the music industry is that we do not have a union that can question things like this. The Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) is failing us because people leading it are not affected by the ban as they play in lodges and hotels. We only know BOMU for organising music awards and they are failing to fulfill their mandate of fighting for musicians' rights,' said Seagile.

He stated that they were not informed when the decision was taken but they only got the information from schools that received official communication from the ministry.
Seagile said they are aware that President Ian Khama is against alcohol consumption but the Minister of Education and Skills Development, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, should not try to impress him by banning music shows in secondary schools.  He complained that the decision is cruel as it is making musicians suffer. He stated that the government is not doing enough to support musicians.

Rumba artist, Franco Lesokwane echoed Seagile's sentiments. He observed that there are no community halls in villages where they (musicians) can stage their shows. 'In the Tswapong area we have lots of revellers but there is no venue. In Ratholo there is a community hall but it is too small as the attendance is usually massive.  We used to make some good business in these areas during the festive season. We used to make close to P15, 000 at the end of the festive season,' says Lesokwane.

He mentioned that vandalism in schools is done by students and not music lovers who attend their shows. He also pointed out that they used to donate funds to schools where they held the music festivals. He added that musicians played a vital role during sponsored walks that schools organised to raise funds, but now that is a thing of the past.

The school head of a certain junior secondary school in the region, who preferred to remain anonymous, said music festivals assisted them to raise funds. She explained that they are now forced to organise  school activities through the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA).

'PTA does not have money and I wonder how the ministry expects us to operate without funds. It's unlike before when boards of governors ran schools because they had money. How can we raise funds if we do not host shows during the day?' she asks.

She stated that vandalism that is said to be a result of music shows is not true, adding that artists provide security that takes care of school property. She said they need the funds for maintenance of school buildings, which are dilapidated because they are old.

Phatsimo JSS headmaster in Selebi-Phikwe, Rich Bashe said he has never allowed music festivals in his school for fear of vandalism. Bashe added that music festivals encourage beer drinking among students and hailed the ban as a wise move.