Record Presidential honours for artists

Staff Writer | Wednesday September 29, 2010 00:00

 

This is the first time that the annual Presidential honours went to more than just a single artist in a year.   Just last year, for instance, only Culture Spears received the presidential award.

A total of 27 outstanding individuals have been honoured by President Khama this year, amongst them Microsoft's Bill and Melinda Gates, for their contribution in the fight against HIV in Botswana.  The presidential honours are traditionally bestowed around September to commemorate Botswana's independence from Britain in 1966.

For local journalists or writers, the last one to be honoured was the late Mmualefhe Raditladi, about 10 years ago.However this time around, The Voice founder, writer, human rights and HIV activist, Beata Kasale, leads a list of three other media practitioners honoured with the Presidential certificate of honour; amongst them retired radio personality Bishy Mmusi, former Gabz FM morning show host and also former RB2 DJ, Solomon Monyame, who was honoured for his contribution to local music as a producer.

Monyame, also known as Solo B, owns Small House records that continue to produce the once forgotten talent of the likes of Stampore, while he is also working on a project to produce another folklore musician, Andries Bok. His studios have also produced the soundtracks for the first ever locally shot Hollywood movie, The No.1 Lady's Detective Agency, aka Mma Ramotswe.

Solo B is also recognised for founding probably the first successful local kwaito outfit, Tribal Monks which, among others, had Skizo and Martin Mabutho.  He is also a founding member and vice chairperson of the 'Press Council of Botswana'.

He also established Botswana's First Local Music Content Catalogue.  Solo B, has also   been the Music Supervisor in the Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency, which won the 'Peabody Award' while the Music Score in which many Batswana artists participated, was nominated for the 'Emmy Award'.

Solo B is also the winner of a number of awards, including The Pan African Broadcasting Heritage and Achievement Award for Best Male Radio Personality in Africa 2001 and Channel O Best Dance Song in Africa for Banyana Le Basimane by Acid (Executive Producer).

He contributes his time generally to projects of national interest e.g. he is chairman of BOCCIM Media Sector, and Chairman of Copyright Society of Botswana.

This year's presidential honours in the arts also include three Presidential Order of Meritorious Service.Awards for three international filmmakers and writers whose works have helped market Botswana to the outside world.  The list includes Scottsman Alexander McCall-Smith, whose 12 series of the Mma Ramotswe, or the No.1 Lady's Detective Agency, have sold over 20 million copies worldwide including translation into other European and Asian languages.

The 13th instalment of the Mma Ramotswe series is due next year, 2011, while a movie has already been produced for leading US television channel, HBO, as well as for the BBC.  Another instalment of the movie is currently being shot in Cape Town, South Africa.

The other recipients are the wildlife film couple Dereck and Beverly Joubert, who have represented Botswana internationally through Explorers In Residence Society with the National Geographic Channel, the first Botswana representation ever. Their films are regularly seen on television around the world, bringing up Botswana's flora and fauna to 100 of millions of homes.

Their films have won Emmys and other top international prizes and have worked tirelessly to promote conservation. Dereck and Beverly have received local and international awards for films and books that have showcased and promoted Botswana worldwide, reads the brief for the award.

Another wildlife film couple, Tim and June Liversedge are also reputable film producers of the wildlife movie; ROAR - Lions of the Kalahari (2000) which excited the world in 2004.

'They have contributed enormously to the worldwide understanding and appreciation of Botswana wildlife which forms a greater part of Botswana Tourism.

Tim has been honoured with a Doctorate of Philosophy by the University of Orange Free State for his contribution to the ecology of Botswana and for subsequent production of the many films portraying Botswana and the behaviour of its wildlife,' adds the brief.

Kalanga Jazz maestro and construction engineer Ndingo Johwa has also been recognised as producer and musician who has popularised traditional Ikalanga compositions and culture in the country through his music. He is also a businessman running an Ostrich Farm and a construction company.  He recorded his first album called, Phondanyama, which is a sacred name for ancestors, meaning to kill an animal by strangulation.  Already Ndingo has five albums to his name.

Johwa's music blend, known as Ikajazz, originates from the traditional Ikalanga folk music namely; Hoso, Iperu, Ndazula and Mkomoto. These are complimented by traditional dance movements, which are a pleasure to watch when performed.

Fiction writer and journalist Andrew Sesinyi, also a retired civil servant, was recognised for his radio work and creative writing.  He authored a number of books among them, Love On The Rocks (1991), Rassie (1992), Carjack (2000), Shadows Of Birth (2010) and Goodbye To Power (2010).

He served as senior private and press secretary for former president Festus Mogae and as Director of Broadcasting Services as well as Deputy Permanent Secretary.  Sesinyi has been the Secretary General of the Union of National Radio and Television Organisations of Africa (URTNA) in Dakar, Senegal, where he managed continental broadcast networking and transformed the URTNA into the present day successful African Union of Broadcasters (AUB).

Although he has been honoured, Solo B has been criticised by the local media practitioners for misrepresenting their position regarding the draconian Media Law at the High Level Consultative Forums at a time when the local media practitioners were bitterly opposed to the legislation.  Media houses have a case pending at the High Court where they are challenging the new law.  The copyright society, which Solo B is chairing, has failed to take shape and start collecting royalties for local musicians and many in the music industry blame Solo B as the chairperson for the fiasco.