Chibuku Road to Fame: Sounds of Universe cry foul
Loc5

Sounds of Universe group

Simbarashe Mutizwa Showbiz Reporter
THIS year’s Chibuku Road to Fame Bulawayo provincial winners – Sounds of Universe have accused organisers of the talent search of ill-treating them at last year’s national finals.Sounds of Universe who also won the Bulawayo provincial finals last year and represented the city at the national finals said they were cheated. The group said it was not satisfied with last year’s outcome where they took fifth position at the finals which were won by The Way from Mashonaland East.

Sounds of Universe founder Cosmas Mpofu said yesterday that the group was treated unfairly at last year’s finals.

“We were not happy with the way they treated us last year. First, we were denied to go on stage for a sound check yet other groups were allowed.

“Second, we were not told who won the event. We were surprised to see the winners being handed the prize money without an announcement,” he said.

Mpofu said they did not understand why the organisers were against them.

“When we tried putting a complaint during the competitions, we were told groups from Bulawayo were a problem,” he said.

However, co-organisers of the event, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) denied ill-treating the Bulawayo group saying there were procedures which they should have taken if they had complaints.

“If artistes are not happy with outcomes of events, they are supposed to forward their complaints to the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe in writing then we investigate the case.

“Right now, we do not know about such an issue because there are no complaints that have been raised with us,” said Catherine Mthombeni – NACZ spokesperson.

She said judges at the Chibuku Road to Fame national finals were music gurus who had extensive knowledge in the music industry.

“We hire professional musicians to adjudicate and we make sure artistes do not know who the judges are until the day of the competition,” she said.

The Sounds of Universe group however said they were preparing for the national finals and were hoping to bring the Chibuku trophy home. Bulawayo last won the Chibuku Road to Fame competitions in 2006.

 

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