Gog Bekezela Launches Gobela Arts Development Agency
Written by Skyz Metro FM on January 21, 2025
21 January 2025
By Effort Moyo
Bulawayo-based artist and entrepreneur, Bothwell Nkomo, popularly known as Gog Bekezela, has launched the Gobela Arts Development Agency to empower local artists and elevate standards in the arts industry.
In an interview with Skyz Metro FM, Gog Bekezela highlighted the challenges many artists face, including poor representation and management. To tackle these issues, he established the agency, which is set to provide comprehensive management services and rehearsal facilities.
“Gobela Arts Development Agency aims to bridge the gap we found in Bulawayo’s arts scene, Inspired by my South African experience, I believe the arts industry transcends entertainment. It’s a calling, a gift demanding dedicated pursuit, whether in acting, radio, singing, dancing, or any other discipline.
“Unfortunately, artists often struggle due to poor management, inadequate regulation, and underrepresentation. They perform, paid or unpaid, driven by their passion.
Our vision is to establish a dedicated center, a true hub for creatives. Here, artists can access management services, secure bookings, utilize studios and rehearsal spaces. We understand that many enter the arts without capital. Therefore, Gobela Arts Development Agency will mobilize resources and provide capacity-building programs to empower artists and nurture their talents,” he stated
The agency is already yielding results, with three students enrolled in its learnership program. These students are gaining hands-on experience in Public Relations, Logistics, Marketing, and General Management. Artists seeking representation will undergo a rigorous vetting process, and those needing further development will be offered tailored training programs.
“Right now, we have three students in our learnership program. One is focusing on Publishing and Content Aggregation, another on Marketing and Media, and the third on Logistics. We’re also grooming a General Manager to handle bookings, finance, and overall management.”
“The Agency is open to all artists seeking representation,. “However, we conduct thorough due diligence to assess their artistic merit. We want to ensure they are ready to be presented to the market. If an artist doesn’t meet our standards, we will provide them with workshops and training. We plan to conduct numerous workshops and training sessions to foster artistic excellence,” said Gog’ Bekezela.
The Gobela Arts Development Agency is also calling for volunteers to join its learnership program, which is open to everyone. The initiative was initially launched in South Africa under the name Creative Space Media before being rebranded to its current form, with a focus on supporting and nurturing local talent.