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What a good move to expose our acts outside the country and show that there is real talent in Zimbabwe.
I was the first to applaud the move but when I started seeing some of the goings-on and the characters behind these shows I got worried big time.
I don’t think some of these so-called shows are really events to showcase our artistes’ talents but rather to make easy money at their expense.
Well, we have seen some of the veterans as well as the up and coming cats making it to foreign lands for shows but most of which have just been disastrous.
I still recall the Winky D and Sniper Storm show in the United Kingdom, which created so much controversy, but in my eyes it was more like brewing a storm in a teacup.
Suluman Chimbetu was in England a few months ago and word coming here says the shows were flops of grandiose proportions and nearly left the young sungura giant stranded and was only rescued at the last minute.
Of late, man of the moment in the hip-hop genre, Stunner, has been in and out of the country as well as King Shaddy, the rising prince of the local dancehall.
Just last week Tuku was in South Africa and I am told though he put up a spirited performance, the show was marred by lack of serious planning and lethargy on the part of the promoters.
I am no exception as early this year I was duped by these guys who were claiming to hold the grandest dancehall awards ceremony, ZimbaNgoma, the guys waxed lyrical and painted a picture so good that even Michaelangalo would have stopped and gazed at.
International superstars as well as A-Listers were said to be coming here for the “great” event but it just turned out to be a ploy by some dudes with sinister motives.
I feel our acts are being taken for a ride just like what the human traffickers do – promise you rich pickings but when they have had their own they make you a pauper due to desperation.
It seems our acts here are always being taken for granted by these promoters but the disturbing thing is that they seem to feel comfortable about it.
But it seems as if the artistes feel right being dragged around like rags and treated with so much disrespect but as long as they get to travel and see new places.
I cry a river for some of these guys, as they really deserve better than the way they are treated outside. After all, it’s said prophets are usually given more respect and recognition outside their boundaries.
Talking to one of these artistes who have made sojourns out of the country you cannot help but feel sorry at how some of these cats are duped into leaving the country for big money deals only to be patronised and made to feel worthless and also not given the money they have agreed on in the first place.
I hear some of these promoters luring the acts out of the country are persona non grata here and well-known crooks in their adopted countries.
They sweet talk you to those foreign shores with promises of a hefty wallet, hazy oral contracts and exposure to the international market, which we all yearn for.
But once you leave the country, your destiny will be in their hands such that they start shifting goalposts knowing full well that your fate will be in their hands.
Musicians are made to play in honky tonky places which we can liken to the Mai Jojo’s and Big Byte here and after the shows one is lucky to see the promoters again most of whom run away with the “bag”.
This leaves our artistes in the clutches of these shysters who simply disappear or become arrogant overnight making all sorts of excuses such that the artiste will be left with no option but to accept what is on the plate – most usually crumbs.
When they come here these artistes complain a lot but I am now beginning to wonder how they ever get into such kind of deals or if anything there were legally binding contracts between the two parties.
Imagine if Sean Kingston, Akon, Sean Paul and others were to be treated like dirt here there would be an international hullabaloo and a lot of litigation will surely follow.
I have seen or heard about artistes who refuse to play when they feel their contracts are being violated and that is within their rights.
Our acts should know their rights and worth and not to be taken for granted by these vultures that are hell bent on making a quick buck abusing our musical royalty.
If we don’t give ourselves self-respect then who shall?

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