Seren Serena Mmifinyana, Vice-Chair of Women in Film Guild of Botswana (WIF), sees hope for the film industry after participating in the Botswana National Training workshop and being a selected member of the National team. The training impressed her with Botswana's commitment to the creative sector through policies and regulations. As part of the national team, she's excited to contribute to the implementation of these policies and feels better equipped to contribute effectively to the implementation of the Convention, which is essential for revitalising the country’s creative sector.
As a filmmaker, I am particularly excited about the potential impact of these policies. Strengthening our industry through effective policies will enable us to advocate for standardized rates and uphold quality standards and procedures.
She believes the project will help elevate Botswana’s entire creative industry to new heights of professionalism and excellence.
Botswana, alongside seven other countries, has been selected to participate in the ““Reshaping Policies for Creativity and Artistic Freedom” project, within the framework of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, a Convention that holds the promise of fostering creativity and contributing to sustainable development. The initiative, funded by Sweden, and spearheaded by the Botswana Ministry of Youth, Sports, Gender, and Culture, alongside the Botswana National Commission for UNESCO marks a significant milestone for Botswana as it delves into the preparation of its first quadrennial periodic report on the implementation of the 2005 Convention, following its ratification in 2020.
Central to this endeavour is a steadfast commitment to harnessing the reporting and data collection process as a catalyst for both policy elaboration and inclusive engagement. By transforming this exercise into a dynamic policy forum, the project aims to cultivate an environment where diverse voices within the cultural and creative industries can converge, fostering meaningful civic engagement and dialogue.
While Botswana's economy has long been reliant on the diamond industry, there exists a reservoir of untapped potential within its cultural and creative sectors. Recognizing this, Botswana has convened a diverse national team comprising representatives from various ministries, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, academia, creatives, and cultural professionals, to elaborate the quadrennial periodic report. The quadrennial periodic report seeks to establish a state-of-the-art of policies for creativity in the country.
In support of this vision, UNESCO convened a comprehensive three-day National team training workshop in Gaborone, Botswana. The workshop which was facilitated by David Waweru, member of the 2005 Convention Expert Facility was aimed at equipping the national team with the requisite knowledge of the 2005 Convention and the quadrennial periodic report drafting process.
Speaking on the benefits of such platforms, Samson Setumo, a creative entrepreneur at the production house Firebrand Group, and consultant in the cultural and creative industries also highlighted the significance of the training towards an improved appreciation of the key role of the creative industry for development.
This workshop has significantly expanded my comprehension of policies, particularly the 2005 Convention, of which I previously had little awareness. I gained insight into its connections with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how these concepts directly impact artists and creatives within our nation. The depth and breadth of ongoing initiatives within our industry were truly astonishing, even for someone like myself with over 30 years of experience, many of the insights shared were entirely new to me.
Artist mobility and cultural exports topped the discussions, with a focus on overcoming challenges for Botswana's smaller artist pool. Mboko Basiami, founder of Glotto, a Botswana sustainable fashion brand, shared her experience:
Showcasing my work in New York highlighted visa hurdles and the need for wider artist mobility options. This workshop opened my eyes to visa exemptions and the value of global advocacy.
In essence, Botswana's endeavour to reshape policies for creativity and artistic freedom signifies not only a strategic economic diversification but also a reaffirmation of the nation's commitment to cultural vibrancy and creative expression. As the project unfolds, it holds the potential to catalyze a renaissance in Botswana's cultural identity, fostering innovation, inclusivity, and prosperity for generations to come. In doing so, it also aligns with the principles of the 2005 Convention to champion freedom of expression, information, communication, and gender equality as essential for a flourishing cultural landscape. It fosters diverse cultural creation, production, distribution, and enjoyment.
