In 2019 kwaito musician and dancer, Thulisile 'Chomee' Madihlaba, took a break from performing and became the first woman on the board of the premier music conference and exhibition, Moshito.
Now, the 35-year-old is using her platform to empower the youth through her company, Divatainment, which has partnered with the Creative Expo to stage the Inaugural Online Broadcasting workshops.
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The workshop will be a hybrid of events hosted on two platforms between the months of May and June. It will feature masterclasses which will focus on developing skills of the youth who have a desire to monetise their digital platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogs and YouTube.
This initiative is in response to the covid-19 pandemic that has wreaked havoc in the creative sector and has introduced a new normality of digitising and working in the fourth industrial revolution. Industry professionals such as ThickLeeyonce, No_Chill god, L-tido, Robot boii, Kheamo M, Keamogetswe Molefe, Yolanda Jwaai and Heinrich Schulz will be part of the sessions which will be facilitated by Rorisang Thandekiso and Bujy Bikwa.
Chomee speaks to TRUELOVE about the initiative and more.
What inspired the idea behind Divataiment’s involvement in the Online Broadcasting Webinar?
I have always been a digital and social media junkie and when lockdown hit the country, I made the decision right there, since I knew that the whole world would be now forced to convert
What can the attendees expect from the masterclass?
The masterclass is basically showing the advantages of online broadcasting in modern world and how it can benefit the attendees. We are are covering marketing in the digital space and how to become discoverable in the digital space.
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Why do you think it is important for the youth to gain digital skills?
We all know the love that young people have for social media so, as Divatainment, we are trying make the youth aware that there are opportunities available to turn what they are so passionate about into a livelihood. We have identified industry key-players and they have been willing to collaborate with us to share a wealth of knowledge they possess within the industry they operate in.
Why were the specific artists and influencers who are going to be part of the workshops chosen?
We have selected from a pool of emerging as well as seasoned artists, influencers and corporates within the online industry. We decided to combine them, so the audience could be exposed to different sides of the online broadcasting industry/space, from content creation, filming, marketing and monetising etc. We are also looking at sharing the nitty gritty details of what is required to make it and also sustain your brand in the ever evolving world of digital.
Any plans of releasing music in the near future?
I'm focused on a couple of things, but mainly growing in the corporate world. Music is and will always be my first love, and I'm always recording, but I think when the time is right I should be able to release music. I am still a big fan of big crowds and feel the right time to release would be when the markets open up again.
