We at Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) are shocked and traumatised that UNESCO has opted to go on a nation-wide bile spitting tour against our so innocent and humble organisation. What we had understood the UNESCO sponsored nation-wide tour to be purposed at creating awareness about and around the domestication of the 2005 UNESCO Convention. But we have learnt that this UNESCO exercise has rather come to be a multimillion sponsored tour against BOMU. This open letter to UNESCO, is a result of UNESCO having initiated a public spat against our esteemed organisation. We would have wished to engage through established protocols, as we have always done. But having observed and learning how UNESCO deviated from established protocol and opted to sponsor a nation-wide tour, which appeared to have been boldly in agenda ourselves, we can only so respond. As we have been addressed publicly, we so henceforth respond publicly.
We apologise in advance as this is so unlike us, we are essentially a very reserved and humble organisation. We only now just find ourselves being corned by a giant, an international organisation that is supposed to be protecting us, but has rather gone contrary to expectations and went for our necks. It is painful. The domestication of the UNESCO 2005 Convention appears to be introducing a new UNESCO culture to undermine Creative and Cultural Practitioners and Organisations who have stood with Creatives, who have filled a vacuum left by international bodies such as UNESCO. It is a shame. We demand an apology. Without an apology, our position is that of disdain.
Let us in the same vein not forget to let UNESCO that the BOMU music Awards will be held this coming month of May 2026. We held a very successful and purpose-built BOMU Music Awards Launch this past week. This week we saw our Registration Team for the upcoming BOMU Music Awards leaving Gaborone to various parts of the country nationwide pursuing a BOMU Music Awards Registration Exercise. A noble initiative not practised by any country globally. This practise of a national wide campaign, to register Creatives for Music Awards only seen in Botswana. It is deliberately so because we appreciate the challenges faced by our Creatives. This is a costly exercise that we nevertheless have to deliberately do, because we care about our Creatives. Unlike UNESCO, we will never go on nationwide tour to spit bile. We demand an apology. Without an apology, our position is that of disdain.
BOMU is always open to constructive criticism. We often shy away from public engagements unless when invited, as in this case. BOMU is a very shy and reserved organisation with a deep sense culture of humility.
Ours is a positive initiative to build, to grow and thrive to sustain the Creative Industry. It is a constructive tour with positive intended outputs. Compared to the UNESCO recently completed tour which as it appears, amongst its successfully delivered major aims was to; bash, ridicule, spit bile, attack and belittle BOMU, our initiatives are rather focused on; positivity, growth, sustainability and development. Unlike UNESCO, we do not have immense funds and resources to spend on undermining efforts. The little resources we get from our partners are focused purely to the advancement of the Creative Industry. Unlike UNESCO, we neither have the energy nor the capacity to launch attacks against innocent, humble, shy and progressive organisations. If the domestication of the UNESCO 2005 Convention brings with it this unfamiliar UNESCO attitude of sponsoring tours and gatherings to bash BOMU; we opt to view it in disdain.
We gladly appreciate feedback from partners and stakeholders. BOMU is always open to constructive criticism. We often shy away from public engagements unless when invited, as in this case. BOMU is a very shy and reserved organisation with a deep sense culture of humility. Perhaps that is why we and remain grossly shocked at the sudden UNESCO attitude to utilise such huge amounts of monies and associated immense resources, to travel the country of Botswana, gather Creatives, and make BOMU the subject of bile spitting discussions, without having engaged us whatsoever, in whatever concerns that UNESCO might, or seem to be having with our poor organisation. We demand an apology. Without an apology, our position is that of disdain.
BOMU held its Annual General Assembly on the 14th of February 2026, where our Delegates from our fifteen (15) District Chapters nationwide; shared reports, discussed projects, mapped way forward and received updates on the status of BOMU and the whole Creative Industry. Amongst the shock of our life was when our members who had attended UNESCO recently conducted forums, which were supposed to be about domestication of the 2005 UNESCO Convention, lamented that such became forums where UNESCO officials bashed, attacked and belittled BOMU. Amongst other places; UNESCO went to Tsabong, gathered Creatives and utilised the opportunity to trash BOMU. UNESCO went to Maun, gathered Creatives and used the moment to launch attacks at BOMU. UNESCO gathered Creatives in Gaborone, and without any provocation, spat bile against BOMU. We are still shocked and traumatised. Actually, we are embarrassed on behalf of UNESCO. We demand an apology. Without an apology, our position is that of disdain.
We are in the same vein humbly pleading with UNESCO, that it goes back to its acceptable way of doing things. That UNESCO reverts to established protocols. The UNESCO we know, or rather the UNESCO we knew, is the one that constructively engaged stakeholders and partners. It is the UNESCO that arranged forums for; growth, prosperity, development, unity and development. This new UNESCO is a total opposite of the then UNESCO. We plead for the return to sanity at UNESCO. UNESCO knows where to find us. UNESCO knows our wants and needs. UNESCO knows how and where we need support. UNESCO knows our challenges. Going on a nation-wide tour and utilising such huge amounts of monies and immense resources to spit bile at BOMU is not only detrimental to the Botswana Creative Industry, but it is essentially an attack on the nation of Botswana. We demand an apology. Without an apology, our position is that of disdain.
Yours in the Creative Industry,
Rasina Winfred Rasina
(Secretary General)
