adminBrenda Phiri and Yeukai Karengezeka
Music promoter Beauty James of Beauty Africa Promotions was nearly assaulted by fans in the Harare Gardens on Saturday after she failed to bring South African gospel musician Lundi Tyamara, despite hundreds of people having paid to watch him.The fans were surprised when some singers announced as Lundi’s backing group went on stage without the controversial South African crooner.
Deejay Black Bonjisi, who works for the promotional company, announced to stunned fans at the end of the show that Lundi had failed to make it, leaving them wondering at the timing of the announcement.
What worsened the situation was that James took advantage of the show, which attracted a sizeable crowd, to launch her third gospel album and fans concluded that she had used Lundi’s name as a decoy in order to market her works.
Police had to block the crowd from reaching James’ car into which she jumped after leaving the stage in a huff when fans become rowdy following the announcement that Lundi had failed to make it.
She then left the Harare Gardens hurriedly in her car, whose passage to the gate was protected from the crowd by the police.
“I don’t know how I can put this across, but Lundi’s flight has been delayed, but he’s coming,” announced Deejay Black Bonjisi.
He then went on to say: “Even if he comes it will not make any sense for him to perform because there is no more time. So, the show is over, you can now go home”.
Other members of the music promotion company disappeared soon after the announcement. The fans could not be calmed as they demanded their money back.
“This is a joke, I want my money back, they should have told us before we paid for they knew that Lundi was not coming”, said Chido Gwatidzo.
The promotional company’s publicist, Nicholas Marimira, shifted the blame to the 34-year-old musician in an interview after the fracas.
“The initial plan was to have Lundi into the country on Friday ahead of the show, but he said there was no flight on the day and would only arrive on Saturday at 11am,” he said.
“We were surprised to learn that his flight had been delayed and he would only arrive at 8pm on Saturday after the show.”
Marimira said he would seek an audience with Lundi for a possible refund, but would not do anything if his reasons for the no show were legitimate.
In November last year, Lundi failed to turn up at the same venue as he was said to have been turned back at the Harare International Airport for failure to produce a work permit.
Online Reporter