adminBelting out tracks that sent pulses raging and feet stampeding on the dusty fields of the venue, Kent flawlessly blended one song into another. The dust rose and amidst the dancing many coughed their way through the night, but none seemed to notice.
Those present were left thoroughly satisfied and in little doubt of the talent of the quiet unassuming man behind the decks. To say he overshadowed his colleague on the night, DJ Cindo would be a gross understatement. The consensus among those present on the night, covered in dirt and clown-like as they were, was that Kent pulverised his competition. Kent is a South African artiste and the performance he gave is however not synonymous with the performance given by most of his colleagues from his country and others from beyond.
The performance given by Cindo, left little to write home about, is the diet that often been fed to local fans whenever an act from outside the country’s borders has come to give a performance. With their hopes up, expecting to see an inspiring performance, the likes of which they believed they are starved of by local artistes, fans usually leave disappointed.
Sometimes their anger turns venomous they register their discontent in ways that are outside the limits of the laws. The ugly scenes at the Dan Tshanda show earlier in the year are evidence of this.
Sometimes however, it seems fans are happy to see in the flesh the artiste they have long idolised while on screen and whose songs they have sang along, lyric by lyric, while being played on radio.
The presence of a foreign artiste on stage seems to quench the thirst of a lot of fans by seeing their favourite artistes live in action. Some of the performances given by visiting artistes down the years have been mundane to say the least. While local fans have turned up in their numbers to see an electrifying performance, they have more often than not been given second rate performances with barely the energy to bring to life a light bulb. Foreign artistes, highly paid as they are, seem to reserve their worst for Zimbabwean music fans. The list of poor performances is endless.
DJ Cleo put up a woeful performance a few years back where he even resorted to insulting the country and its leadership while the Splash concert this year was nothing to write home about. A bad show marred by scenes of hooliganism was capped by a below par performance by Dan Tshanda who took to the stage in the early hours of the morning.
The DJ Cindo performed at the Lounge’s first anniversary celebrations last month but her show was as uninspiring as her last appearance in the country, and was witnessed by a handful of fans as people stayed away due to the inflated cover charge.
Marabi music sensation Jeys Marabini believes a lack of respect by the country’s promoters for local artistes coupled with the problem of identity crisis among Zimbabweans, especially in Bulawayo is the problem. In his view foreign artistes have it easy.
“We as artistes are not respected within our own territory and that is the crux of the matter. Whenever artistes from outside the country come here, they get wide coverage and publicity while their shows are also expensive as people have to fork out a lot of money. However this does not translate to great performances on stage because they are only here for the money. Some people in Bulawayo also do not know who they truly are hence they identify with artistes and music from South Africa,” he said.
Jeys and other local artistes believe local artistes can do a better job because whenever they perform they are not driven by financial gain, but a desire to showcase their best. They believe that their music is the mirror from which the city can see itself. However it boggles the mind how that mirror is constantly ignored, which leaves local artistes wondering whose reflection local fans are looking at when they flock to shows by foreign artistes and neglect their own.
Bulawayo artistes are thereby outsiders within their own city, constantly knocking on a door that seems perpetually closed to them.
Local DJ and Djembe Monks member Sir Black Cee believes some of the blame should be laid at the doorstep of local promoters and club owners who he believes do not want to pay local artistes their due.
“The problem is that club owners believe they can just rope in a couple of youngsters who are prepared to play just for the exposure and maybe a few beers. This is unfortunate because they will not rope in proper local DJs or performers because they think it would be harsh on their pockets,” he said.
Local artistes thus have to battle for crumbs, while their foreign colleagues feast on the table of plenty prepared for them by promoters and supported by local fans.
Some artistes have come and given sparkling performances in the country over the years, but those have been like a drizzle amidst a prolonged dry spell.
Local businesses and Bulawayo industries have often complained of the unfair competition posed by foreign goods. Government has taken steps to protect them and perhaps the same should be done for the arts who have been similarly afflicted. If foreign artistes had performance clauses in their contracts it would help combat the lacklustre and somewhat disinterested performances that they dish out on a regular basis to local fans.
Until such a measure is put in place many shall continue to believe that Zimbabwe is a gravy train upon which all and sundry can hitch a ride without much consequence.
Online Reporter