Samantha Mogwe joins GRAMMY Awards selection committee
It’s a momentous time for Botswana’s music scene as Samantha Mogwe officially joins the Recording Academy as a Voting Member. This significant achievement not only marks a deeply personal milestone for Mogwe but also places her among the esteemed global collective of professionals who determine the nominees and winners of the GRAMMY Awards.
Samantha Mogwe’s invitation to the Recording Academy is more than just recognition of her contributions to music and the broader creative sector; it positions her at the forefront of conversations shaping the future of the industry. She is now the second Motswana artist to receive this honor, following in the footsteps of her friend and fellow artist, Mpho Sebina.
Mogwe views this opportunity through the lens of representation. “This is more than recognition,” she reflects. “It’s about representation. It’s about pulling up a chair, not just for myself, but for Botswana. For African women in music. For the ones building from the ground up, often unseen but never unfelt.”
As a Voting Member, Samantha will have the privilege to celebrate artistic excellence across every genre through the GRAMMY Awards process. This role also enables her to collaborate and exchange knowledge with global peers and leaders in music, advocate for industry-wide reform around fair pay, creator rights, and education, and contribute to the Academy’s year-round programming and policy-shaping initiatives.
This appointment closely follows her recent work with Nala Project Masters and the ongoing Tune Into Empowerment program (funded by CIPA’s Levy on Technical Device Fund), both of which champion structured, meaningful support for women in the music business.
“To be one of the voices voting in the GRAMMYs is surreal. But what excites me more is the opportunity to connect, shape new pathways, and advocate for the future of African music from inside the room. I do this for every young Motswana who dares to dream.”
Samantha also took a moment to acknowledge the individuals and efforts that paved the way for this honor. She expressed deep gratitude to Mpho Sebina, the first Motswana artist to join the Academy, whose quiet promise to hold the door open for others is now bearing fruit.
She also highlighted the role of Baobab Media. A stakeholder meeting they held some time ago unintentionally planted seeds that would blossom into this very opportunity. “I’m especially grateful to Kindra Parker and Pat Dambe, whose leadership at that convening created meaningful connections at a time when none of us could predict where they’d lead. Sometimes, bridges are built long before you know what they’ll connect.”
This moment is a powerful reflection of what can be achieved when vision, excellence, and collaboration align, and when artists and advocates lead with both heart and strategy.
“I don’t take this lightly,” Samantha adds. “I accept this invitation not just as an artist, but as a Motswana woman committed to building, holding space, and making room for more of us. Our stories matter. Our sound matters. Our presence matters.”
As part of the Recording Academy’s 2025 New Member Class, Samantha joins a new generation of creatives shaping what excellence, equity, and influence look like in music, across borders, genres, and generations. This is a truly inspiring time for the music industry, and particularly for artists from Botswana and across Africa.
