I’m coming to Bulawayo: Nyovest

Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
SOUTH African hip-hop star Cassper Nyovest yesterday insisted that he will be coming to perform in Zimbabwe, despite threats of physical harm by a small group that claims to represent Zimbabweans affected by xenophobia in that country. Nyovest, real name Refiloe Maele Phoolo, received a number of threats on Twitter prompting his mother to discourage him from visiting the country.

But the singer, who has already spoken out against xenophobia, describing it as “embarrassing”, declared that his Bulawayo gig during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair would go on.

“I’m going to Zimbabwe next week! I don’t care who threatens me. I’m going to perform for MY people! My African people! My family!,” Nyovest declared on Twitter last night.

The Doc Shebeleza hit-maker revealed that his mother had called to discourage him from visiting Zimbabwe after an unknown musician posted a threatening banner on his profile. “Just got a call from my mum and she thinks I shouldn’t go to Zimbabwe for my show next week after reading this,” he said.

The local musician who uses Twitter handle, Augustus Baba Zaine Vurunga, had written: “On behalf of every musician in Zimbabwe, I’d like to take this matter into my own hands which I know many will join. This show will not happen, and if it does, it will not end well.

“We’ll send a message to every SA citizen watching, partaking and promoting xenophobia. I’ll be at the front of the crowd at the airport waiting for you to arrive and depart that same moment.

“Say something or we’ll do something. And you Mr Zimbabwean promoter, size yenyu tinayo, if you don’t take this serious. Zimbabwe let’s do this.”

Responding to the threats, Nyovest said: “There’s always one bitter unknown musician willing to do dumb sh** to make a name for himself. He’s also xenophobic.”

Nyovest is billed to perform at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds in Bulawayo alongside locals Winky D, DJ Stavo, Cal_Vin and Djembe Monks.

He said besides his mother, he had been advised by some people to cancel the show following attacks on foreigners in his country.

“People are advising me to cancel my show, I ain’t budging. I’ll come and perform for my brothers. I don’t support xenophobia therefore my show in Zimbabwe is still on for the 25th of April. My Zimbabwean fans are gonna come to my show,” tweeted Nyovest.

Show promoter DJ Dee Nosh said the show would go ahead and urged the artiste’s fans not to blame musicians for the violence in their country as they did not have any control over the ongoing attacks which have killed at least six people.

“Our visiting artistes aren’t perpetrators and neither are they in political control of what’s happening in South Africa,” Dee Nosh said.

Kalawa Jazmee artiste, Diliza, who is billed to perform on Independence Day at Horizon Night Club, has also been dragged into the controversy as some fans do not know that he is Zimbabwean.

“I’d like to set the record straight, Diliza is Zimbabwean,” his promoter DJ Joe the OG said. “People shouldn’t confuse him for a South African because he is based there. We’re concerned that he’s being bunched with South Africans through WhatsApp texts that are calling for the boycott of his show because of xenophobia. We don’t support xenophobia.”