Pastor Sovi withdraws 10k sponsorship of BOMU gospel category

Prophet Isaiah Brian Sovi who was kicked out of Botswana in October last year left Botswana Music Union (BOMU) with egg on their face when he revoked his sponsorship for the best gospel category award. The ‘man of God’ who is reportedly a millionaire, who owns IBS Consortium that has stakes in forex trading, fashion, real estate and freight, had made a pledge for P10, 000 in the best gospel category of the BOMU awards. Ouna was the category winner.

However, the situation changed after the ‘prophet’, Sovi was hastily bundled out of the country the following day after being investigated by immigration officials over suspicions of irregular financial transactions and inappropriately operating his church, Imperial City Church. In December, BOMU released a statement to the effect that they were still talks with Sovi. It read in part: “

While he was in the process of redeeming the sponsorship, Sovi was asked to leave Botswana. This being the case, BOMU has not received the cash sponsorship and he cannot send it pending a few issues. We have been in communication with him and he has promised that once everything is sorted out he will bring forth the sponsorship.” However, through his spokesperson Bridget Sebina recently released a statement this week that addresses BOMU and the Botswana arts industry. It reads in part: “The IBS Consortium chairman Sovi had pledged to sponsor the Gospel category and not a particular individual as now evidenced by the public outcry because of an individual who claims to be owed by the Consortium.” It further says: “The day after the awards, our chairman Brian Sovi had a meeting with Botswana government officials who indicated that they were investigating his use of funds and expressed a desire for him to exit Botswana.

The meeting and the subsequent outcomes were implemented before any transactions could be made between BOMU and IBS Consortium. The chairman therefore is not at liberty to conduct financial transactions within the borders of Botswana until the investigations by the officials of that country are finished. Realising that the process make take an infinite period IBS has taken a decision to withdraw the sponsorship.”

In an interview with The Midweek Sun, BOMU president Pagson Ntsie said all the other sponsored categories winners had received their prize monies and they had accepted Sovi’s decision. “He had said that he would get back to us. He wasn’t dodging or running away. He was actually in the country last week to liaise with government officials.” Ntsie noted that the BOMU disciplinary committee would take action against gospel singer Ouna, who took to social media to express disgruntlement over not receiving the amount she was expecting inciting a storm over the matter.

“At BOMU we are trying by all means to attract sponsors and the behaviour of artistes is important so we will take action against anyone who brings the organisation into disrepute,” he said. The BOMU president also shared that they were working with the Botswana Public Employees Union (BOPEU) on a project to be launched next month. “We are talking about a multi-million Pula worth labour body here and to have attracted them shows that we are doing something right. He said it was important for local artistes to clean up their image if they wanted to attract reputable sponsors and stakeholders for partnerships. He said that they would crack the whip on artistes whose behaviour is out of order. “Local artistes should realise that the way they carry themselves can make or break their music careers. They need to strive to create a positive public image in order to be taken seriously. We also want to clean up our image so we are going back to the times of shutting out artistes who do not behave themselves,” he said.