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Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
SOUTH African Kwaito star L’vovo Derango says local promoters should do more to promote local artistes by making use of regional stars to catapult their careers. Speaking before his Saturday night show in Bulawayo, L’vovo (real name Thokozani Ndlovu) said one of the ways local artistes could benefit was by launching their albums in the presence of regional and international stars.  He said this was the only way the local music industry could grow.

“Promoters should promote local artistes more than the foreign acts. The promoters should use us to promote the local acts and make their album launches coincide with our live performances,” said L’vovo.

The heavily-built artiste claimed that the only known Zimbabwean artiste was Oliver Mtukudzi.  He regretted that he could not watch the opening acts for his show but heard that they were good.

“Apart from Mtukudzi I don’t know any other artiste from Zimbabwe. Even the opening act I didn’t meet them or even hang around with them. I only heard that they were performing and I haven’t even heard their music,” said L’vovo.

He said in other countries promoters use South African artistes to promote their local artistes and Zimbabwean promoters could do the same.

“In Namibia that is what they do.  They use us to promote their local artistes. They use our names to popularise the show but will be about promoting their artiste,” said L’vovo.

He said artistes from Bulawayo had the privilege of being close to South Africa and should make more collaborations with artistes from his home country.

“The guys from here have the privilege to be close to South Africa and should take advantage of that and work together more with South African artistes, use their names to launch your careers,” said L’vovo.

Derango as he is popularly known said he spends his spare time with Afrotainment musicians and DJs.
“We just sit around, drink, braai and dance to music. I will be with Tira, Mampintsha, Danger Mashesha and other guys from Afrotainment. These times of sitting and chilling are few and far between because we will be busy with shows. Weekends we are never free,” he said.

L’vovo is the last born in a family of six (three boys and three girls) but is the only one surviving as all his sisters and brothers are now late. His father died in 1994 and his mother is alive.  L’vovo has a five year-old son named Okuhle and is unmarried.

He has performed alongside Will Downing; entertained crowds during the Barcelona and Mamelodi Sundowns game.