Creatives celebrate Independence with optimism
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday September 30, 2022 13:23
Today, many people would probably be spending at least a portion of the day attending celebrations while others will be watching the fireworks at the National Stadium where the main celebration event is normally held. The local creative sector has evolved from humble beginnings over the years since independence in 1966, to a good story of hope. The creative sector has helped build Botswana over the years, telling stories of developing Botswana through son and dance as well as paintings and drawings.
It is these positive strides that have led many to eventually believe that indeed, the sector is the next economic diversifier from minerals. Despite all these successes, there has been stagnancy in recent years with the sector failing to reach full potential and be the driver of economic growth as anticipated. But on the occasion of our Independence, what’s there for the creative sector to celebrate? Arts & Culture spoke some players in sector.
Thapong Visual Arts Centre Director, Reginald Bakwena agrees that there have been positive developments of the visual arts since independence 56 years ago. Bakwena takes the reader back memory lane to the period in the 70s and 90s when local artists started to mount exhibitions. He remembers that is these exhibitions that produced self-taught artists in the likes of the late Rantefe Motebe. “The exhibition was organized by the National Museum Monument and Art Gallery. Artists were honoured to win awards. Through artists, the gallery managed to develop a collection,” said Bakwena.
Bakwena also said the introduction of art in the school curriculum in 1982 as well as the opening of the Molepolole College of Education in 1985 for art education training were other factors that need to be commended.
“Molepolole College of Education was formed to pursue the liberation through the arts,” he added. He said the development continued with the formation of Thapong International Artists Trust in 1989, which started to organise international workshops with artists from abroad, regionally and locally. Then Thapong Visual Arts Centre was established in 1999 and is currently operating in creating platform for artists.
Bakwena said there is also the Kuru Art Project, which was formed in 1986 by the Dutch Reformed Church in D’kar, Gantsi, which produced many prominent artists such as Dada. He said the formation of Botswana Society for the Art with intention to build the school of arts was good for the arts as it led to the establishment of private galleries such as Galler Ann.
He stated that in the 1990s, public collections by the Bank of Botswana and the National Museum led by Phillip Segola started to develop. He said the introduction of Thapong awards to recognise artists should also be commended as it also led the government to start collecting collect art from local artists, an opportunity for artists to sell their products.
While there are great achievements, Bakwena says there have been challenges such as training, funding, quality standard along the way.
He said the introduction of the National Arts Festival (formerly President’s Day Competitions), and the formation of the National Arts Council are some of the things that give renewed hope for the arts. However, he said there is more work to be done before the arts could reach their full potential. For his part, the Botswana Entertain Promoters Association (BEPA) Gilbert Seagile said the creative industry especially the music industry has grown in leaps and bounds. He said the industry has become a lucrative business with numerous value chains.
He said there is a lot to celebrate in terms of how far the industry has come. PP wa Pimp, as Seagile is known in the industry, said the potential of the creative sector could only be fully realised if industry players are involved in policy making as well as implementation. “We have the experience to do these things more than government officials. But it is shaping up. We are very happy with what the Office of the President is doing, because it is a breakthrough with this initiative by DBS. About 80% of local artists will benefit. It will go a long way in relieving us,” said PP wa Pimp.
PP wa Pimp said as it is, the current efforts are something to look up to with optimism.