A chat with a promoter

Source : Kutlwano

Author : Ndingililo Gaoswediwe

Location : Gaborone

Event : Interview

Photos: Godfey Mpuse

Behind a hit song is a great producer. Equally, behind successful gigs are promoters who routinely organise, schedule, market and such events.

Though such venture appears lucrative, it is incredibly unreliable. In a week, a promoter can rake in a lot of money then loose the entire earnings in the subsequent show. Despite the hitches, some individuals are daring to take the risks. Kutlwano journalist Ndingililo Gaoswediwe (NG) chats with promoter Gilbert Seagile nicknamed Pimp wa Pimp (PP).

NG: Howzit PP!

PP: Keteng Ndix.

NG: Who is PP?

PP: PP is Gilbert Seagile. Born at Sekgoma Memorial Hospital in 1978 I was bred in the village of Moiyabana and later moved to Selibe Phikwe and Gaborone respectively. Ending my schooling at Cambridge level I jumped straight into the market.

NG: Why the nickname PP?

PP: Okay, PP is not related to the menstrual pains and it means that my life was a period of pains. I was never happy, I was disadvantaged and even happy seasons like Christmas did not bring any happiness to my life. Despite working hard I yielded little, even when growing up it was tough…o tsholwa hela that`s why ke godisitswe ke bo malome. The name later changed from pain to a pimp.

NG: As a young man with a rural background, what inspired you venture into promoting events?

PP: I started learning rap music and doing hip hop but the market, though unsaturated, disappointed me. I then realised that I would do best behind scenes. I am a maker not a player looking at the fact that while still in Phikwe I used to coach a football team for small boys and even to date I don`t even know how to kick a ball.

NG: Who was your first artist to promote?

PP: The first artist to manage was Odirile Sento aka Vee around 2005 during the Taku Taku era.

 

NG:  Being an amateur, how did you convince Vee mampeezy?

PP: He engaged me for a national tour and after an impressive job, he engaged me as his stable manager. Because I had registered a company-Gilbert Promotions, I decided to shelve it and concentrated on branding PP because by then Vee was very popular.

NG: How did you land deals with other popular artists?

PP: At this juncture people started recognising my deeds and Culture Spears recruited me to be their promotional manager including Slizer who was under their stable by then. I revived Gilbert Promotions for it catered for different activities rather than concentrating on artists.

NG: Cite some of the highlights of your career

PP: Former President Festus Mogae`s farewell party, BDP rallies, MVA events, music exchange programme in Namibia and a popular radio programme-Montsamaisa Bosigo I cohosted with Dj O`Neal on Yarona FM around 2009. Now I am working on taking Jojo to another level and planning to later engage other artists. Le wena o a bona gore Jojo ke mo godisitse, she is expected to perform at the 2014 Brazil FIFA world cup official opening and she is the only Motswana who will this year perform at the African Unite Music exchange festival in Malawi.

NG: How do you survive in this dog eat dog industry?

PP: It`s a tough one! There is talent and the problem is lack of professionalism that is why the corporate world takes us for granted because we sometimes behave like bommasekanta.

NG: Why do promoters prefer importing artists while there is talent locally?

PP: Foreign artists normally pull crowds and we are also disadvantaged by laws. When engaging locals only, one gets a permit from the By Law and the entertainment session is only allowed to run up to midnight or 2 AM if it is hosted at a club. In the presence of a foreign artist we obtain permits from arts and culture department and trade and industry and there are no time regulations.

NG: And your long term goal?

PP: My wish is to become an international promoter. I am known in the SADC region and I want to spread my wings across the globe. My intent is to export local music. Ga ke batle go bokiwa ke tlisitse Snoop Dog mo Botswana mme ke batla go ipona ke tsere Matsieng ke e isitse Enyelane.

NG: Ciao Pimp!

PP: Sure Sure!

ENDS