Involvement of the Mogwana traditional dance troupe, performing side by side with one of Botswana's leading exponents of the folk lyric, Stampore, should be a welcome improvement to promotional tools of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation.

The participation of the artists, who, it can be credibly argued, are probably more effective ambassadors of Botswana culture in general, and the country's economy in particular, should have added an exciting dimension to the government's promotional activities.

Not very long ago Maxi and a largely foreign entourage of accompanists were invited to Japan, ostensibly to help market Botswana diamonds.

Hopefully, these experiments signal a radical shift, though rather belated, from the previously lackadaisical approach to employment of the arts and culture for the advancement of Botswana's interests abroad.

Needless to say, that is also an indication of the level of attention that has been given to the arts and cultural development since the early days of independence.

Culture, if properly promoted and marketed, could prove to be a major income earner and employer, especially as the country continues to dabble without much demonstrable proof, in diversification of the economy.

In fact, some economies of major industrialised countries such as the United States draw massive income from the export of culture in the form of music and films, and not least of all, war.

The Bollywood film industry has probably done more than any other sector to sell Indian culture. Reggae has done remarkably well to market not only Jamaican culture, but also the whole Caribbean.

Were it not for endemic corruption, and the army's interference in the political life of the country, Nigeria, with its size of population and oil resources, should be counted in the same league as Egypt and South Africa in the development of the arts industry.

Botswana, it is becoming increasingly evident, must take a bold step away from cosmetic 'airport culture' which starts and ends with bare-breasted girls entertaining visiting dignitaries for next to nothing in financial earnings.

Perhaps, with intensification of the efforts of the various facets of the arts industry - the music teachers, the creators of musical instruments, and the people who work in IT and music - but most particularly the arts practitioners, the arts industry will find its way into the mainstream of Botswana's economy.

Today's Thought

In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can inspire.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson