Monday, November 4, 2024

Inaugural House Music Symposium slated for next Saturday

On July 17, house music enthusiasts will be given the opportunity to learn about the professionalism behind the much loved music genre. The symposium, which will be hosted by the Black Audio Fire, will give house music lovers a chance to learn from some of the best house Dee jays in the region.

The event’s organizer, Thabiso Mashaba, said in an interview that his main aim for organizing such an event was to boost the growing house music industry of Botswana.

He says that the symposiums target house music fans in general, who include university students, upcoming artists and the entire public in general.

Mashaba says the house music industry of Botswana has, in the past, proved itself to be one of the biggest upcoming music genres, however, adding that it still lacks professionalism, which is why it doesn’t make a huge impact beyond our borders.

“If you take South African house music, for example, it has done so well that you get to hear their music being played at mainstream house music international festivals like Ibiza,” he said.
The symposium is largely sponsored by Barloworld Motors.

Clement, a representative from the Volkswagen division of the automobile company, said that they have a keen interest in sponsoring the event.

“House music enthusiasts make up some of our customer base here at Barloworld. They go for cars like Citi Golf’, Velocity, Golf 6, GTI’s R32’s and Polo’s,” he said.

The symposium will host some of the well-known house music figures from Botswana and South Africa as the main speakers. Representatives from Botswana will include Solomon Monyame, also known as Solo B from the Copyright Society of Botswana.

His career in the house music industry stretches as far back as the early 90s and he has owned Mud Hut studios ever since.

Owen Rampha (Mr. O), the programmes manager at Yarona FM and professional Dee jay, will also pitch in a word as one of the main speakers.

Also present from Yarona FM to grace the event, will be radio presenter and youth activist Bonolo Seone (Miss B). She will give a presentation on alcohol and drug related issues, which unfortunately are some of the negative social impacts which affect house music enthusiasts.

From Big Dawg Productions based in South Africa, local house music sensation, Thato Sikwane, (Dj Fresh) from 5FM, will also be present as one of the key stakeholders in the house music industry. He will grace the symposium with some words of wisdom.

Also present from South Africa will be the General Manager and house music tutor of the Soul Candi Institution of Music, Mr. Jason Faber.

Also on the line up will be top international house music artist producer, singer, song writer, re-mixer Ronald Clark of Delete Records, who hails from the United States of America.

Professionally, Clark has grown to become one of the key players in the house music industry over the past decade.

The symposium, which will be held at the University of Botswana Business Auditorium Block 245/41, is expected to become an annual event.

Those who have a keen interest in the event can buy a branded T-shirt at Musica at River walk mall.
The symposium will start at 8:00 am and end at 5:00 pm.

There will be an after party happening at Fashion Lounge where the speakers will play house music from 8:00pm until 2:00am.

Those interested in attending this event can register on the Blak Audio Fire website on www.blakaudiofire.co.bw.

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