25 Aug 2019

Kgalemang Tumediso Motsete (KTM) choir has received accolades for winning a gold award at the recent European Choir Games in Gothenberg, Sweden.

Speaking at the celebratory event organised by First National Bank Botswana, (FNBB) and Liberty Life on August 22, FNBB CEO, Mr Steven Bogatsu, commended the choir for working hard to win the gold award. 

“We are excited by any initiative that has the potential to keep the youth engaged and move them away from destructive activities. We believe that having them engaged can minimise social ills in our society,” he said. 

Bogatsu said KTM Choir had produced esteemed music directors and composers in the country and it was building a legacy that would be remembered for generations to come.

For her part, Chief Programmes Officer at the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development (MYSC), Ms Nakiso Kubanji said they were proud of the choir as it put Botswana ‘on the world map’. 

“As indicated, they just won a gold medal from Europe and this does not come as a surprise as the choir has long proven that it is the best, by scooping awards from different competitions locally,”Kubanji said. 

She further said MYSC has partnered with the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry to develop creative industry strategies, adding that ‘gone are the days where talent was meaningless in this country, it is now business people in the creative sector’. 

She said the ministry wanted to recognise young people’s talent and KTM was made up of predominantly young people. 

“It is our belief that the creative industry can and will grow and diversify the economy of this country,” she said.

Kubanji said KTM was a living testimony that individuals could use their knowledge and talent to feed themselves. 

She also recognised FNBB and Liberty Life’s efforts, saying that such partners were needed in the creative industry to grow it.

KTM board chairperson, Lorato Morapedi said the choir faced many challenges, but through hard work and perseverance, it managed to fly the country’s flag high. 

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