UK based artistes cry foul

24 Jul, 2016 - 00:07 0 Views
UK based artistes cry foul Lamont Chitepo

The Sunday News

Lamont Chitepo

Lamont Chitepo

Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
ZIMBABWEAN musicians based in the UK are perhaps feeling the heat in terms of competition, as promoters prefer booking local artistes to perform there.

This is ironic to the phenomenon faced by local artistes, who raise similar concerns when foreign artistes perform in the country.

“All these promoters busy bringing people from Zim, when we are here busy doing big things,” wrote Lamont Chitepo on his wall, perhaps in an effort to attract the attention of promoters that have scheduled a string of shows in UK with local artistes such as Tuku and Macheso billed to perform there.

Soon after posting the message, some of his friends responded with mixed feelings.

Collin Mutavayi, responded, “That is a good question . . . I know so many good professional acts here but they never get roped in by local promoters. Yes, they may be relatively unknown but if they give you a good quality show does that not work both in the promoter and the artistes favour? I would suggest UK artistes get together and organise their own events and back themselves.”

Taurai Cheteni wrote: “Lamont Chitepo don’t blame the promoters, blame the UK fans who won’t support their own local artistes. A promoter only delivers a product in demand from fans.”

Boss Ronie: “Keep doing your music for your fans that’s the moral before anything else . . . When your time comes promoters will come knocking. Diaspora you are one of my best but you still need to sing till people believe. You there on the door right now, don’t spoil it.”

DearLuckie Aaroni: “it’s same here promoters bring international artistes.”

Afri Kalcha: “It is a good point Lamont Chitepo. I have a question though, if you listen to your sound is it any different from what other artistes in Zim are doing and are we not coping the Nija or east African sound?

E Mpress Sae Yeah: “I hear you . . . this is one that comes up repeatedly, most established artistes in the UK are not trying to play for peanuts . . . most Zim promoters are promoting for the £££. So even though it would costs flights, visa and maybe $200 (max) to pay . . .”

Lamont, a fast becoming popular musician, who used to go by the name Tu Short, recently labelled local producer Oskid a con for allegedly failing to meet his end of a musical deal.

Lamont recently released a sizzling dance track Maiwe featuring Nigerian singer-cum-actor, Kevwe Isaac Nikoro, popularly known as Kin.

Maiwe is off his four-track album with the same title. He released his debut album Ndiwe in the UK in 2010, leading to his nomination for the Black Entertainment, Film, Fashion, Television, Arts and Sports Awards, which celebrate black and ethnic personalities in showbiz.

He has worked with some seasoned artistes such as Delani Makhalima, Major E and shared the stage with Chimurenga guru Thomas Mapfumo.

@peterkmatika

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