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Tawanda Marwizi Arts Correspondent
All is not well at Suluman “Sulu” Chimbetu’s Orchestra Dendera Kings amid revelations the musician has been left out of this year’s big festive season shows that usually characterise his year-end programme as promoters allege that his manager, Trevor Jakachira, is involved in deceitful deals.
Jakachira has duped some promoters that wanted to book Sulu for some gigs and show organisers have lost confidence in the musician and excluded him from their festive season programmes.
Sulu failed to get any contract for big shows featuring other top musicians like Oliver Mtukudzi, Alick Macheso and Jah Prayzah this festive season.
For dendera feel at their shows, promoters have signed either Douglas Chimbetu or Tryson Chimbetu.
On the busiest day of the season last Friday, when other musicians had fully-packed shows, Sulu did not have anywhere to perform because no one signed him for that date.
He only performed at a private function in Chimanimani in the afternoon and became a spectator at other shows in Harare that night.
Promoters that spoke to The Herald Entertainment said Jakachira had spoilt the festive season for Orchestra Dendera Kings because of lack of professionalism.
Isaac Chikandare, manager of Mutangaz Hide Out in Ruwa, said they paid Jakachira US$800 as a deposit for Sulu’s show, but the musician did not turn up for the gig and there has been no refund.
Jakachira is said to have taken the money and promised Sulu would share the stage with Jah Prayzah at the venue, but no one came to perform on the agreed date.
“When I asked Sulu he was not even aware of it and as I speak today Jakachira has not returned the money,” said Chikandare.
He added that Jakachira had made fresh demands prior to the show and they failed to agree on the new proposal.
An official from Jah Prayzah’s camp confirmed they had heard about the Mutangaz Hideout issue, but they never signed a contract to perform there.
A promoter in Beitbridge is reportedly threatening to report Sulu to the police after he paid Jakachira for a show that never materialised and later realised the musician had a show with another promoter in the same town when his contract was not fulfilled.
Jakachira denied the allegations saying it was unfortunate that there are some people who are working as middleman for promoters.
“Those are lies I have not on any day misused the funds of the company, but there are some people who want act as middleman between the musician and the promoters,” said Jakachira.
“In the case of the Beitbridge show the promoter paid US$400, but I never got it because there was a middleman.
“We did not get the money so we could not fulfil his date.”
Jakachira bragged that he has managed to buy vehicles and PA system for the band.
Turning to the Mutangaz show, Jakachira said they will have another show to compensate for the date adding there were other serious assignments that coincided with the date.
Sulu’s publicist Joe “Local” Nyamungoma confirmed they had issues with some promoters, but refused to shed more light saying it was an in-house issue.
“We might disagree on with promoters on certain issues, but that is an issue to be solved within the band. We do not want to wash our dirty linen in public.
“Everything we be amicably solved and the band will continue running normally,” said Nyamungoma.
One of the promoters of the big festive season shows said they no longer trusted Jakachira.
“He used to be a good manager, but he has now ruined the band. He needs to be professional and he has to change because people have lost trust due to the way he operates.
“I settled for another dendera musician for my show because this festive season is a time of big business and no one wants to take unnecessary risk,” said the promoter.
Online Reporter