BET award winning South African, DJ Black Coffee is set to thrill house music lovers at this year’s instalment of the Gaborone International Music and Culture (GIMC) week. He is the first South African to get recognition at the US’ Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards, scooping the coveted statue for Best International Act ÔÇôAfrica. Black Coffee has become one of the biggest names in the music industry over the past ten years. He has released five successful awards including his most recent, ‘Pieces of Me’ in which he features among others, NaakMusiq ,MQue and Portia Monique. His performance at the GIMC is set to be his first in Botswana following the BET Awards.
“The multi-award winning record producer and South African DJ, Black Coffee who recently scooped Best International Act 2016 BET Award will headline the Music Festival on 3rd of September 2016,”says GIMC’s Boikanyo William.
“It will be a great opportunity for people to come and experience one of the greatest performances from this well renowned DJ who has recently played at big Festivals such as Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, and the Ultra Music Festival.”
Botswana’s export to SA and one of the biggest names in the house music industry DJ Fresh will also play at the music festival. Having rocked dancefloors here in Botswana, across the region, Miami, and the rest of the world DJ Fresh needs no introduction. His incredible reputation as a DJ, radio host, and philanthropist precedes him.
Other artists scheduled to perform at the National Stadium on the same night (Saturday September 3rd) include Skizo, Vee, DramaBoi, Chrispin the Drummer, FADED GANG, Dj Amstel, NT Base, and Donald (SA).
The music festival is just a fraction of the week long activities of GIMC that include a jazz show, poetry night, choral music concert, theatre and stand-up comedy. “The event is of international standard, as it will have the best of local and international arts performers,” Williams says. She says other big names at GIMC 2016 will include Jonathan Butler, Salvado from Uganda, Doc Vikela (Zimbabwe), Sereetsi and The Natives, Botswana Ensemble, Skizo, and KTM Choir.
“We promise to give Batswana and everyone attending value for their money by giving them the best shows ever,” Williams says. This year’s will be third instalment of GIMC. The 2015 show featured a total of 45 artists over the seven day period. Of the 45 artists 38 were from Botswana with the rest coming from Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. “GIMC has truly grown into a regional event and it will create great exposure for the 38 Batswana artists who will be part of this year’s event,” the organisers have said. Held under the theme ‘More THAN just an event’ last year, the organisers said the positioning was relevant because GIMC is more than just an event. “It addresses a wide array of touch points from selling Botswana, creating a platform for Batswana artists to grow internationally, celebrating the capital city, to boosting the local economy with increased business activity during the seven days.”
