Amantle Brown reflects on Billboard performance

For Amantle Brown the Billboard stage wasn’t just about the lights and cameras, it was a defining moment of purpose.

Often referred to as Botswana’s R&B gem, Amantle Brown’s journey has been anything but smooth. But in her own words, she now walks with a "renewed sense of calling".

“I am so excited that it happened to an ordinary girl. Right now my purpose has shifted, I want to inspire young, upcoming girls from all over the country. I’ve turned what happened to me into a purpose-driven scenario. I want them to know it’s possible,” she shared.

Whilst many only see the glamour of the stage, Amantle Brown is refreshingly open about the personal costs of her career. She describes her journey as colourful, but also one that came with difficult and deeply emotional lows. “I don’t want to lie, it has been an experience that took a lot from me, especially the lows," she said. "When you get to a point where you are cancelled as an entertainer, and people sort of forget about you, it takes a lot away from a person.”

She said a past conflict involving her stage name nearly derailed her career. The public dispute affected not just her music, but also her brand partnerships. “That issue affected my business a lot. Brands didn’t want to work with me. I was basically cancelled. But it made me dig deep. It shaped me into a totally different person. I’m more optimistic now. I’m a dreamer again. I’ve expanded my business and I’m exploring other things.”

What brought her back, she says, was a moment of remembering why she began. “I always went back to the moment I wrote Black Mampatile. I was alone then, not waiting for anyone’s validation. I remembered to dream again. I always wanted to go back to the girl who wrote that song. I prayed to God to get me back to that girl.”

Performing on the prestigious Billboard stage came with its own weight. Amantle Brown recalls being overwhelmed by doubt in the lead-up to the performance.

“I was wondering whether I was good enough, if I would deliver. Would they understand and feel what I was doing or is it only Batswana who relate?” she wondered.

Yet even in the pressure, she found strength in staying true to herself.

“I was just myself, really. I didn’t try to imitate anyone to fit in. But the pressure was intense I was carrying the industry with me. It was no longer just about me,” she said.

She carefully selected her set list to showcase not only her voice, but her story. She opened with Lerato, a stripped-down ballad with just vocals and keyboard. “I wanted people to really hear that I can sing,” she explained.

She followed it up with a full-band performance of Black Mampatile, a song deeply personal to her growth, and closed with Go Monate.

Beyond the performance, the Billboard experience offered new professional doors. “The real deal was the networking. We had beautiful conversations, exchanged contacts, and we will put those to use,” she pledged.

“What’s next for me is everything under the sun. I have grown, I have evolved. I’m no longer just an artist. I’m an entrepreneur now,” she declared. “I’m going to leave my mark on earth, and I’ve pledged to the Lord that I’ll do it how He planned, because of what I’ve learnt when I was down.”