16 May 2024

Upcoming Gospel artiste Kennedy Mopalo of Nata is appealing to the general public for sponsorship on his journey to Atlanta, United States for the Prestigious Gospel Choice Music Awards to be held from June 28-29. 

The 26-year-old has been nominated in two categories as a finalist in Gospel Religion Song Writer of the Year and Contemporary Christian Artist of the year. 

In an interview about his gospel music journey, Mopalo said he started following his passion in 2019 when he recorded his first album Lethomela la bo Dafita which was released in 2020. 

He said the album was received well in the market as it made it to the airwaves across radios in the country. 

He said another milestone was nomination in the Botswana Gospel Music Awards for the Best Gospel Music Video last year. Although he did not win the awards, he said it was an inspiration for him to have been recognised to that stage of competition against well established artists. 

He further noted that following his nomination in the local gospel music awards, he was motivated to spread wings hence registered his entry online for the 30th Annual Prestigious Gospel Choice Music Awards last year December. 

I received a positive feedback in March when it was indicated that I have been nominated, he said.

Besides trying his luck on the international stage, locally he continues to take part in shows to gain exposure as he recently participated in the Department of Broadcasting Services Road Show in Nata including the National Arts Competitions. 

Mopalo, however, explained that to reach the final stages of nominations, one should have scored high votes from the general public across the world and he successfully made it that far.

In the two categories, he asserted that he would be competing against 11 other artists in each category and as such he appeals to Batswana to use social media platforms to vote for him to win the awards. 

He said the journey to the final stage had been a bumpy one due to financial constraints. “I need close to P50 000 to cover flights tickets and other expenses, that include accommodation in Atlanta,” he said.

He said so, far he had written to the Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture and different organisations appealing for sponsorship. 

“I’m also pleading with the general public to assist with anything they can afford to help me go to America for the awards,” he said.

 He is expected to leave on June 26. 

ENDS