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DJ Cooperman

Bongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
Bulawayo music promoters have come out guns blazing saying they are not obliged to help local musicians collaborate with international artistes.

Babongile Sikhonjwa, a local promoter said this during a media briefing of the Second Coming concert which featured South African artistes in Bulawayo last week after local artistes had complained that promoters in the city were not facilitating collaborations between them and their international counterparts.

Over the years, Bulawayo has seen big names from South Africa such as Zola, Zahara, Mzekezeke, Pitch Black Afro, AKA, Cassper Nyovest, Professor, Black Motion, Black Coffee and DJ Zinhle performing in the city. But, out of all these, only Cassper Nyovest has collaborated with local rapper Cal_Vin. As a result, local artistes have been condemning promoters for not promoting them as much as they expect.

Sikhonjwa said locals needed to understand that promoters, like them, were in business as their focus is mostly on making a profit.

“We’re business people first. While we’d like international artistes to collaborate with local acts, it’s important to remember that they’ve to satisfy the promoters first.

“These international artistes come into the country to entertain people and whatever happens on the side is none of our business,” said Sikhonjwa.

He said it was instead the artiste’s responsibility to ensure their music is up to standard first then approach the visiting artistes.

“The international artistes have to like your music first before they decide to work with you. Local musicians should make an effort to get their music to the international artistes, how they do it is none of our concern,” said Sikhonjwa.

Bulawayo DJ Cooperman of Bulawayo Knights stable said it was saddening that local promoters did not have their interests at heart.
“I’ve always said these promoters are out to make a quick buck and don’t care about the industry in the city. I’m glad they’ve clarified that with us.

“For how long have South African artistes come here and performed and there hasn’t been any collaboration between local artistes?” asked Cooperman.

Surprisingly however, the international artistes have expressed their willingness to partner locals. Black Coffee, who usually patronises Bulawayo, said he was interested in hosting a Meet and Greet with local artistes as he wants to share notes with them.

“When I come to Zimbabwe, I don’t want to come here and excite fans, get on a plane and go back to South Africa. I want to impart knowledge to the local DJs and music producers. I’d like to come early and do workshops with them and teach them about the music industry,” said Black Coffee.

But, in Harare it seems to be a different case as some promoters like Robert Zhuwao (dancehall promoter) and Chipaz Promotions prefer that a local band be formed to back up the international artistes. Last year, Chipaz Promotions who hosted Luciano in the country facilitated a meeting with Jah Prayzah which resulted in the two artistes getting into studio for a song – Roots. The song was featured on Jah Prayzah’s latest album Jerusarema.

Promoters there also prefer to have the international artistes stay in the country a little longer as they include within their itinerary – days they tour studios and interact with local artistes.

The Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) has also prioritised collaborations, both local and international.

Harare promoter – Mama Red Rose concurred with Black Coffee saying international artistes were more than willing to partner locals.

“The Jamaican artistes we work with are always open to working with local artistes whom we suggest for them,” Mama Red Rose who recently organised the Chris Martin concert said.

She, however, bemoaned that some local artistes shun press conferences where they are given the platform to interact, one-on-one with the visiting artistes.