Are local acts treated with enough respect? Rick Ross Zim visit

Mbulelo Mpofu, Features Reporter

THE Rick Ross show held recently in Harare had all the markings of a blockbuster but just like any other concert, there was margin for error.

Some of the scheduled artistes did not perform and this raised the age-old question: “Are local acts treated with enough respect?”

From the line-up consisting of the main act, American rapper Rick Ross, South African artistes DJ Maphorisa and Nasty C as well as Kikky Badass, Takura, Saintfloew, Holy Ten, Hillzy, Enzo Ishall and the Handipere Power hitmaker Nutty O.

Besides the show being a dud performance-wise, organisational acumen lacked as the organisers, Roar Entertainment, failed to honour some obligations.

Details pertaining to why Nutty O didn’t perform are surfacing and his management issued a press statement detailing their own account of events.

“The sincerest apologies to #ABXPeople who came through to the Rick Ross concert last night expecting the Nutty O performance.

As you know, we were much excited about yet another link up and witnessing the Mustard Seed in effect, but due to circumstances beyond our control as Team ABX, despite arriving at the HICC at 9pm in good time for the program stated performance time of 22.15PM we were not granted access to the stage area and event by the promoter. Efforts by the artiste, band and team to get access tags had failed since morning of the show day, November 18.

“We stayed in constant communication with the organising team through management to no avail. By the time we managed to get in, the visiting artiste was performing and no other local artiste had performed yet, we communicated with our gig contact, they assured that we would perform after another visiting artiste who was next.

This did not, however, happen the visiting artists all performed and we were backstage until 3am when the venue had emptied up and the organisers themselves had left,” read the statement.

There was a lot of talk about barring of entry and Nutty O’s management, through Diana Nheera said they were disrespected.
“Basically, we were booked then sidelined and disrespected all night. On this particular event we were not treated with the respect any hired act deserves.

We did everything required for the work of the day, and expected to deliver as we had prepared, so you can imagine the shock, hurt and disappointment when we had to return home without actually performing.

“Our gig contact tried by all means to get us a slot way after midnight but the people who were managing the stage would not. Then after the event they all went quiet on us, not picking our calls, even when we needed to let them know we were putting out a statement and discuss that with them before going public, they ghosted us and it’s been like that since. No communication whatsoever,” said Nutty O’s management.

The festive season is almost upon us and the arts sector is responsible for our merry-making endeavours but what happens when those entrusted with our enjoyment are not given their flowers?

What happened to charity beginning at home and Bulawayo creatives being crown jewels of our shows?
Now, artistes are crying foul over performing for “exposure” or getting peanuts.

The Rick Ross show is not an isolated occurrence. It exposed cracks in the local arts sector. Recently, the Harris Continental Music Festival (HCM) gig which took place at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo was subject to public scrutiny as both local artistes and fans alike voiced their disgruntlement of what they called, ‘disrespect.’

The bone of contention emanated from advertising placards placed around the CBD which had foreign artistes’ names written in full but local ones only classified as “+ LOCAL ARTISTES.”

Master KG

The general mood was that Master KG, DJ Tira, Amaroto, Dladla Mshunqisi and Zimbabwe’s gifted muso, Winky D, are somewhat superior to Jah Signal, Fab G, Mzoe 7, DJ Liz, DJ Nospa, DJ Mzoe, DJ Yona and Mufali who were curtain raisers at the show.

Bulawayo is Zimbabwe’s melting pot of arts and culture and has of late attracted the attention of Harare and South African acts which have wantonly flocked the city.

Before this, revellers cried foul over how they were being duped of their hard-earned cash with South African acts skipping shows which they were billed to perform at or performing “two-minute sets.”

So, this leaves one wondering, “Is the creative industry dying a natural death where little care is put on the quality of the product?”

This disrespect ends up having a negative effect even on fans as they end up receiving half-baked performances from international acts. Case in point, last month, Young Stunna just left the stage right in the middle of a performance without any explanation and that was the last people saw of him.

Nutty O

Are consumers of entertainment going to continue to be short-changed when they pay to see international acts but get apologies and arrangements of new shows which do not materialise?

I think it is time bodies like the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe protect the interests of music fans that are shortchanged because they are also consumers.

Many a time, South African acts perform poorly and degrade the idea of them being the headline acts with short and unpolished sets. For example, South African Afro-pop duo, Blaq Diamond performed way below expectations last year when they graced Umguza Yacht Club and this did not go well with some fans.

If the above concerns are not addressed, the art sector will continue to die screaming while it should be on an upward trajectory and soon, the moniker of Bulawayo being the cohort of unbridled art will just be that, a nifty moniker. – @eMKlass_49

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