adminThe long Easter holidays saw two prominent musicians, Jeys Marabini and Alick Macheso, launch their long awaited albums in front of different but equally eager audiences.
For fans of Marabinia��s upbeat Afro Jazz style, they waited almost three years for Thula Sana while fans of the record breaking sungura juggernaut, Macheso, the wait for Tsoka Dzerwendo has been an excruciating four years.
The wait for both fans ended this past weekend, with Macheso holding his album launch at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on Thursday while Marabini held his own album launch on Saturday at the Bulawayo Theatre.
Both launches point to the differences between both the artistes and how their products are also received in the cities where they are resident.
Machesoa��s decision to sell the copies of his album at a $1 each has been widely applauded as it showed an artiste that is aware that the scourge of piracy is now beyond complete eradication.
The decision to mass release the album on the day of its debut was not the complete solution to piracy that many are looking for but it provided a blueprint for other artistes to use when trying to dodge illegal peddlers of musiciansa�� work.
Marabini in contrast went the opposite route, choosing to sell his album at $5 per copy at his launch. While this might seem retrogressive when looked at in light of the current economic challenges coupled with the ever-present piracy problems, Marabinia��s decision to sell his album at that price was no less justified.
a�?I understand there is piracy but leta��s not bend to it, as musicians we should stand up and take piracy head on. Our products are not worth a dollar, if we dona��t stand up, trust me, we end up giving them for free,a�? he said after the launch.
The Easter launches also exposed the fan apathy that artistesa�� from the City of Kings have always complained about.
While Machesoa��s launch was attended by hordes looking to finally see their favourite artiste in action, the attendance at Marabinia��s show was not inspiring.
The crowd at the Bulawayo Theatre made for an intimate setting as Marabini and band mesmerised those that had come to sample his new 12-track project with their intricate musical compositions.
In contrast, a bass guitar wielding Macheso had played for hundreds only a couple of days earlier.
Marabini sounded the ominous warning that fans might lose him and other artistes if they continued to greet their efforts with apathy.
a�?The show has been advertised and even the media has done its part spreading the word so I can only lay the blame on fans if they dona��t attend. Majaivana left because of similar treatment and I would hate to see fans crying about Jeys when he is no longer around,a�? he said.
The two launches also showed the level of corporate support that artistes in the two cities receive.
Harare businessman George Chimhini bought a CD of Machesoa��s latest offering Tsoka Dzerwendo for $5 000, while Macheso also received a residential stand in Harare from businessman Phillip Chiyangwa. In contrast corporate support for Marabini was negligible on the night with few, if any, individuals chipping in with gifts of any kind. .
Online Reporter