New BOMU president calls for unity

MOGOMOTSI MOLOI
Correspondent | Wednesday February 27, 2008 00:00

 

The former secretary general conceded in an interview with Showbiz yesterday that BOMU was besieged by a host of problems and it was high time they changed the strategy for the better.

'The very critical thing is the handover report. It contains recommendations from the last meeting before elections and it has a couple of issues to be addressed,' he said, adding that the 2005-7 strategic plan also needs to be reviewed.

He pointed out that they have to review the strategy for growth of the music industry and probably elevate their approach to implement the revised strategic plan. He said they would soon invite artistes and other stakeholders for a consultative meeting where all problems would be tackled head-on.

He promised that the new committee would, if possible, change the way they have been approaching the copyright issue. Tlhomelang insisted that, contrary to common belief, the outgoing committee did its best despite the odds.

Tlhomelang stressed that they would become aggressive in addressing thorny issues that have been hampering the music industry's progress. 'We need to mobilise artistes so that they feel involved in BOMU,' he said. He added that artistes have to have a sense of responsibility and get direct feed back from the association. The buoyant music administrator told Showbiz that he was happy that after being voted into office last Thursday Batswana are giving them feedback. One of the stressing issues that the new BOMU executive is faced with is addressing the music quality by local artistes.

The BOMU president lamented that there is a public outcry that local music has not reached standards and lacks creativity and now is the time the union should hold workshops to sensitise musicians on how to go about the business. He challenged the artistes to start taking statistics of sales and shows' attendance. He said the statistics could help the BOMU secretariat compile updated information and knows what is the true reflection of the music industry. In terms of voter apathy experienced at the elections, a defensive Tlhomelang said it is not only BOMU that experiences such problems. Out of the possible 500 members only 81 voted.

Tlhomelang admitted that the number is relatively low but he said he was not surprised because on average about 100 artistes regularly attend meetings. 'Those who talk too much never attend meetings and we were not surprised when they failed to turn up for the voting,' he said.

He urged artistes to appreciate and be proud of themselves if they are to revolutionalise the industry. Jazz musician, Soccer Moruakgomo, who was defeated by Tlhomelang, complained that the elections were not fair because not all BOMU members took part in the elections. Some losing candidates said non-artistes could not represent them, as 'they (promoters) are the ones exploiting musicians'. A charged Tlhomelang said the statements are unconstitutional. He stated that everyone has equal rights to BOMU executive posts and people should stop blaming vigilant candidates. Rasina Rasina is the new secretary general, Zenzele Hirschfild of Zen Promotions is vice president, Ruth Moore became the events manager, while popular Btv presenter Joel Keitumele is the communications officer. Michael Mmereki scooped the additional member's seat. Though the outcome of the elections did not go down well with some people, Tlhomelang remained convinced that the balloting went well. He said the people's team now has the duty to take the union to the artistes.

'We have to teach our artistes responsibility on the same level.' He said they would investigate why musicians failed to turn up for elections in large numbers. With reference to the criticism that BOMU faced previously, Tlhomelang assured that they would do a lot to clean up BOMU's soiled image. He said they would treat issues with merit. They would bench mark with developed associations elsewhere to take BOMU to the next level.