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Showbiz Reporter
BIKO-MAXIMUS-MAPHOSA, the Bulawayo producer who embarked on a protest march from Bulawayo to Harare, arrived in the capital city yesterday morning.The producer, who is now the talk of the town for marching to create a spirit of transparency and unity of purpose in the arts industry, said he was protesting for change, especially issues pertaining to the treatment of Bulawayo artistes.

Upon arrival in Harare after a tiring six-day walk, Biko took a picture on the Welcome to Harare billboard and shared it on social networking sites. He was invited to ZiFM for an interview by host, Tonderai Katsande, who said he wanted to listen to Biko’s music and perhaps play it on their station. Today, besides an interview on ZiFM, other interviews have been lined up for him at StarFm and PowerFM. Word on the grapevine is that there are some ministers who have shown interest and are also planning to meet Biko today to see how they can assist his cause.

According to Biko, he walked to challenge the country’s radio stations to play diverse music, among other issues.

“Our radio stations play music from the same Bulawayo artistes. I’ve never heard the likes of Jeys Marabini, Sandra Ndebele, and Xmile, but I hear more of Lovemore Majaivana, Don Gumbo and Ilanga.

“We never hear diverse hip-hop with either Venda, Kalanga, or other beautiful languages our country has to offer. Radio stations may say artistes don’t submit their music, so part of my protest is to encourage artistes to do something about their music,” Biko said.

He said his walk was to also show commitment and unwavering support to grassroot arts and generate corporate and community support for youths to develop their musical careers.

“I want to encourage musicians to collaborate and work together on music so as to celebrate and expand the knowledge of our differences in our diverse culture, rather than use an approach that silences other cultures.”

Responding to the buzz around him where people have been questioning who he is and why he was walking, Biko said: “This business of people asking who Biko is and why he’s protesting doesn’t work because this Biko is trying to make a change somehow.

“I didn’t even know there was a Barack Obama until he started making it,” he said.

He said he was grateful and overwhelmed by the support he received from artistes across the country during his 444km walk to Harare.

“I’d like to thank Nelson Munner who gave me food, water and clothing in Gweru, DJ Stavo who offered me accommodation at his hotel in Kwekwe, BaShupi for taking time from his honeymoon to come and supply us with food, money, umbrella and moral support,” Biko said.

He also thanked ZiFM’s Gibson Ncube for coordinating and promoting the cause and Oliver Mtukudzi’s Pakare Paye Centre in Norton for accommodating him on Tuesday night.