Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)

Botswana: MC Maswe Threatens to Block Bomu Awards With Court Order

Local Mbaqanga musician Thapelo Maleka, also known as MC Maswe, has threatened to block the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) annual awards scheduled for October 31 with a court order, after the organisers failed to respond to his plea to have his genre of music included in the award categories.

MC Maswe wrote to BOMU music awards organisers on October 8, threatening that he would "wait for five working days for your response before seeking help from relevant authorities".In his letter Maswe seeks clarification/answers as to why his music category was not included.

MC Maswe told Showtime that his lawyer was to have served BOMU music awards organisers with a final warning letter, by end of business on Friday, announcing his decision to take the matter up with the courts of law. "Even if it means halting the music awards, let it be so, but I am fighting for my rights as a musician. I'm not the only musician doing Mbaqanga style today, why should BOMU decide to kill or ignore this genre of music?" MC Maswe lamented.

He told Showtime in a separate interview that he is surprised that other genres such as rock 'n' roll were included despite the fact that only one nominee submitted, while his music style would have attracted more entries.


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