2nd December 2025
Sello Motseta
Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) has launched a pilot initiative designed to capacitate and support the commercialisation of traditional cultural performance through the professional production of a studio album by Mafitlhakgosi Traditional Dance Group, in partnership with Eric Ramco Music and Film.
The project was unveiled at a stakeholder and media briefing held at Fairscape Precinct on Monday, along with a live performance by the group.
The landmark initiative is implemented through a tripartite agreement between BDC, Mafitlhakgosi and Eric Ramco Music & Film, covering full production, project management, distribution preparation and promotional rollout. BDC aims is to apply investment discipline to the creative sector by developing products that can generate bookings, digital streaming revenue, licensing opportunities and other commercial gains.
BDC Managing Director Oteng Keabetswe, said the project forms part of the Corporation’s broader intent to support emerging industries that demonstrate potential for scale, export potential and youth participation.
“Botswana has the creative talent. What has been missing are the structures that turn that talent into sustainable enterprises and commercially competitive products. This pilot allows us to test a more formal value chain, from production standards to distribution and rights management, with the aim of replicating and scaling it,” said Keabetswe.
He said, “Botswana has a strong cultural foundation, traditional dance, language, rhythm, oral history, fashion, instrument-making, visual identity, and performance. What we have not done consistently is build the commercial structures around these assets to convert cultural expression into sustainable economic activity.”
Local creative’s operate informally, without access to funding, structured distribution, IP ownership frameworks, or scalable platforms. The result is that its value remains largely untapped.
BDC’s mandate is to catalyse sectors that can scale up significantly and contribute meaningfully to national competitiveness. Traditionally, that has meant sectors like manufacturing, services. property, agriculture, renewable energy, to mention but a few.
Officials say BDC believes an opportunity exists because the creative sector has the characteristics of a viable industry: youth-driven participation, digital scalability, export potential, cross-sector linkages, and branding power. This is not just a Corporate Social Responsibility gesture; it is a strategic
industry-building effort.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Tiroeaone Ntsima, welcomed the initiative, stating that creative industries align with national priorities in entrepreneurship, digital trade and economic diversification.
“Our focus is not only on creative expression, but on how cultural output can translate into enterprise development, market access and regional competitiveness. This initiative demonstrates how structured collaboration between institutions and creators can support sector growth,” said Ntsima.
This initiative aligns with BDC’s broader strategic commitment to support the development of the creative sector as a growth industry with scalable value chains, enterprise participation and long-term economic contribution.
It further complements the Corporation’s Corporate Social Responsibility mandate to promote and expose local talent through music, arts and cultural activities while supporting community development and youth participation. The project is also designed to generate insights that can inform future programmes and potential collaboration models across the sector.
BDC announced that the project will be followed by a Creative Economy Workshop that will convene stakeholders across music, digital content, visual arts, cultural heritage, film and design. The session will map sector opportunities and inform the foundation of a Creative Economy Acceleration Framework aimed at developing commercially viable creative enterprises. The framework will be developed collaboratively with partners across government, private sector, academia and the creative community.
Mafitlhakgosi Traditional Dance Group is a traditional performance ensemble known for their work in preserving Setswana cultural identity through dance, theatre, music and storytelling. The group has performed at key cultural events, collaborated with national institutions, and has been widely profiled for their role in cultural education, youth engagement and community outreach.
Their performances are rooted in traditional motifs, indigenous choreography and cultural narratives that resonate across generational and regional audiences. Beyond entertainment, they actively teach cultural knowledge, mentor young performers, and curate performances that bridge heritage and contemporary creative expression.
The group has demonstrated structure, consistency and artistic discipline, making them well-positioned to transition from stage performance into commercial cultural enterprise.
The partnership marks the group’s first professionally managed studio production, backed by structured project financing, creative direction and distribution strategy.
It gives the group: Formal ownership and commercial use of their music; easy access to broader markets through digital platforms and media channels; A launch pad for brand partnerships, bookings and touring opportunities; Development of digital assets with long-term revenue potential and experience collaborating under commercial frameworks
These elements position Mafitlhakgosi to operate not only as performers, but as a cultural business capable of generating recurring income, scaling their audience base and participating more fully in regional and global cultural markets.
The group noted that the support marks a fundamental shift in how they operate—from performance-driven engagements to a business model anchored in intellectual property, recurring revenue, brand partnerships, and export-oriented cultural products.
They highlighted that the project equips them with tools and structures that enable long-term sustainability, market expansion, and the ability to package Botswana’s cultural assets in formats suitable for global platforms and future commercial opportunities.
