Beating piracy with a push cart

Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya
You genius!

There is a relatively unknown Bulawayo musician by the name Knowledge Nkiwane (35) who has sold more than 20 000 copies of his solo sophomore album without the help of any record bar or outlet.

How does he do it?

Simple, he vends his gospel music on the streets where he is mostly seen moving around with a hired-for-$10 push cart.

a�?In a good week I sell a thousand copies,a�? he said.

Leta��s help you with the maths there, a copy is sold for $1 and 1 000 copies translate to $1 000 tax free money. The cost of producing one CD is 20 cents.

The hot selling album is entitled Lento KaJehova (Goda��s property).

Nkiwane has so far taken his crusade to Gwanda, Bulawayo, Plumtree and Johannesburg in South Africa.

a�?In South Africa I easily sold 20 000 copies within a short space of time. Gwanda accounts for more than a thousand just like Bulawayo. I dona��t have the figures for Plumtree yet,a�? he said.

Music pirates have nothing on him.

a�?I sell my music on the streets while I perform. The catch is in that I divert people who want to buy from pirates right into my path. I get police and council clearance, so while the pirates run battles I work my thing,a�? he said.

Although his method is clever but not sophisticated it does the trick but Nkiwane realises that there is an audience that hea��s not catering for.

a�?I am working on my website and other internet driven platforms to sell my music. When I go on the streets there are particular people that I dona��t reach and they are all over the world,a�? he said.