Are foreign artistes good for Zim?

had a chat with my colleagues the other day and discussed all these musical shows being held in the country at the moment. To most of the peeps, these shows are being thrown around like confetti at a wedding such that this fellow of mine Ragga Ray rather posited that they never benefit any Zimbabweans but the foreign musicians themselves.

He said they come to collect outrageous amounts of money with much gusto and arrogance and then give half-hearted performances before leaving the country smiling all the way to their banks.
Ragga was of the opinion that most of these musicians only come to Zimbabwe because they feel it’s a backyard but highly paying place with the locals more than eager to splash around their dues just to see foreign faces no matter how good the performance.

Actually he likened the scenario to the Justin Bieber’s case where most teenage girls just out of curiosity want to be closer to him and feel if he is really human like them. The dreadlocked Ragga even went as far as saying that most of the time the foreign musicians act like over pampered divas.

Besides the Bob Marley concert, which was free of charge Ragga reckons that most artistes have been here just because of the greenbacks and nothing else.
However, I really disagreed with Ragga as I think we need these foreign visitors as they help to market Zimbabwe and show that things are really going on well.

However, Tress the Crook Avenue honcho, one of the finest producers in the country was also complaining about some of the treatment these foreign acts dish out to locals. Tress said they hosted famed South African rappers L-Tido and Maggz but left with a sour taste on their palate.

They had invested all the little they had to work with the South Africans but were left licking their wounds at the reluctance by the South Africans to work with them.
Although we might be angry at times with these foreign acts I think they have helped to market and expose our music as well as our country.

I had a call from a Jamaican friend of mine I met sometime last year who was saying Zimbabwe is becoming more like a country of choice to most Jamaican musicians. The guy was saying all the Jamaican acts, which have come to Zimbabwe, have painted a very wonderful and pleasant picture about our country such that even ordinary people who have never heard about us want to know what’s the big deal.

Sizzla Kalonji has been one of the greatest advocates talking about how good Zimbabwe is and I hear he is lining up a host of Jamaican acts to come and have a gig in this country maybe later this year. Word says Sizzla wants to connect our local artistes as he had initially promised when he came here sometime ago with their Caribbean counterparts. Also it is highly likely that some of our local artistes might be able to perform at Jamaican festivals like Sumfest and Reggae Sunsplash if all things go according to plan.

We are coming from a difficult time and what we need at the present moment is international exposure to show that we really are a peaceful and progressive country.
Much like religion, music I think is the cement of society and helps in a big way to gel bickering elements of society through fun and entertainment.
I still remember how Bob Marley became the unifying element in his country’s politics by preaching peace through music, although most people at that time were sceptical about it.
I was rather chaffed when I heard that one of the country’s most talented dancehall artistes Luscious of Honey Vibes who was under the weather is finally on the mend. Luscious had been bed-ridden for some time due to some health complications and a show was held for his benefit a fortnight ago that was a success.

The show was organised by the Urban Groovers Association and featured some of the popular acts in urban grooves and managed to gross around US$1 400 for Luscious.
According to Joe Machingura, one of the organisers of the show, the proceeds went to Luscious and they shall be holding such ventures as a way of supporting afflicted urban groovers.