DBS P2.6m funds exclusively for our members – BEPA
Boikanyo Mathonsi | Sunday January 14, 2024 06:00
Late last year, the DBS released funds to be distributed amongst music festivals over the festive holidays in order to acquire filming rights for content for Botswana Television (Btv). The programme was spearheaded by BEPA in conjunction with DJ Fresh through his company, Big Dawg Productions.
While the issue has seemingly caused a stir among local music promoters, BEPA has explained the criteria used to select eligible events for funding. Speaking to Arts&Culture, BEPA president Gilbert Seagile explained that the P2.6 million provided was intended to support BEPA and its members only. He said most aggrieved promoters who feel overlooked should understand that priority was given to BEPA members’ music shows.
Furthermore, the BEPA president highlighted that it was not the responsibility of BEPA to use the funds to aid any promoter who is organising an event, dismissing any obligation to consult with other key stakeholders in the industry. “It is not true that in the criteria of selecting these events, we consulted with DJ Fresh. We simply put our proposal, which was meant to serve our members and most promoters do not understand this. We have been working with Pula Power who were acquiring our content for free. However, last year we approached DBS to acquire content from our shows for Btv and we agreed on the classification of each show and cost variation,” said Seagile. Seagile challenged those who were aggrieved by this decision to seek clarity before raising false alarms. Furthermore, he said he is aware that the people who are complaining are those that refused to join BEPA.
“In this case, they are free to approach whoever they want for funding. We did this as a consortium, which makes it easy for negotiations. It is just pettiness and they know it,” he said. DJ Fresh of Big Dawg Productions explained that the rights acquisition fees for these events ranged from P75,000 to P150,000 per event and the criteria for selecting these shows was established by BEPA in consultation with Big Dawg Productions. He explained that their strategic approach was to ensure that the events chosen for rights acquisition aligned with the vision and goals of both entities.
“The consideration of whether an event was suitable for television also played a pivotal role in the fee determination,” he added further highlighting the emphasis on content quality and potential reach. DJ Fresh alluded that the decision-making process behind the selection of events reflects the commitment of Big Dawg Productions and BEPA to curate a diverse and compelling portfolio of productions. He added that by carefully assessing the size and content relevance of each event, they have demonstrated their dedication to delivering engaging and impactful experiences for audiences across the country. The controversy surrounding the allocation and utilisation of government funds in the entertainment sector has reignited the conversation regarding financial oversight and ethical practices.