Online Reporter
Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
On Friday, Bulawayo played host to South African house and Amapiano musician MaWhoo at Nexus Rooftop, a show that drew a huge crowd and, on the surface, appeared to be a resounding success.
Yet behind the scenes, a very different story unfolded, one that exposed how local artistes continue to bear the brunt of poor treatment at events meant to uplift the entertainment industry.
While fans danced under the lights, some home-grown performers silently endured disrespect, disorganisation and broken promises.
Two artistes, rapper Noluntu J and multi-genre artiste Fab G Mshanakagogo, who attended and were billed to perform, revealed that they struggled to access the VIP and backstage area, failed to secure decent seating for themselves and their teams, and received service far below what their status in the industry deserves.
Noluntu J and her team released a formal statement, describing “significant unprofessionalism” that they say disrupted her scheduled performance. They cited unresolved technical problems, poor sound engineering and an overall lack of support from the venue’s staff.
“We wish to formally address the unfortunate incident that occurred during Noluntu J’s scheduled performance at Club Nexus in Bulawayo. As a committed and professional artiste who consistently delivers high-quality performances, Noluntu J values respect, reliability and excellence in every engagement. Unfortunately, the experience at Club Nexus fell short of these standards.”
According to the team, the technical issues and lack of support made it difficult for her to deliver the quality her fans expect.
“During the event, Noluntu J encountered significant unprofessionalism from members of the club’s staff, which created an environment not conducive to a successful performance. The on-stage sound quality was severely compromised, with unresolved technical issues that persisted throughout her set.”
Offstage, it appears organisers prioritised paying VIP guests, reserving tables exclusively for them while seemingly overlooking local artistes. Noluntu J said during sound check earlier, she had scoped the venue and indicated her preferred seating area, but this was evidently ignored.
Her statement stressed that respect, professionalism, proper sound checks and responsive engineers are non-negotiable in live performance environments. It also emphasised that the intent was not to attack the venue, but to highlight the importance of proper artiste support for the growth of Zimbabwe’s creative sector.
“Strengthening professionalism across all venues and events is vital for the growth and sustainability of the local arts sector,” they added.
For fellow musician Fab G Mshanakagogo, riding high with his hit Imali Yesgweja, the night was equally disappointing. Although billed to perform, he ultimately did not take to the stage after organisers breached their contract by failing to pay his deposit. To show his commitment, he arrived at the venue in casual attire and later changed into his performance outfit in preparation for his set, but despite this, he still did not perform.
He said before the event, he attended several meetings, created promotional content and waited for confirmation that never came.
On the day of the event, there was still no sound check, no agreed-upon seating, and no refreshments for his team. He alleges that he was pressured to perform without payment and even threatened when he refused.
“Despite clear agreements on payment and logistics, Nexus failed to meet its obligations. I was promised a deposit before the event, but it didn’t materialise . . . I was told I’d receive full payment before going on stage, but this didn’t happen.
“Instead, I was pressured to perform without payment, and when I refused, I was threatened with damage to my career,” he wrote.
He added that, despite being promised seats, none were provided and even the seat his team managed to secure was later taken away by staff. Noluntu J confirmed that the seat was taken away from him to accommodate MaWhoo.
“As an artiste, I expect respect and professionalism . . . Nexus’ actions were unacceptable, and I believe they used me for marketing purposes without fulfilling their obligations,” Fab G said, urging the venue to settle his outstanding payment.
Both artistes expressed disappointment but also hope that speaking out will bring awareness to the systemic issues affecting local performers, issues often hidden behind the glamour of the main stage. Their experiences have reignited debate over how promoters and venues treat local talent, and the urgent need for change if the sector is to grow.
Their stories serve as a reminder that the growth of Zimbabwe’s creative economy begins at home. Promoters and venues must uphold professionalism, honour agreements and treat local artistes with the dignity they deserve. Only then can the local industry thrive and stand shoulder to shoulder with regional competitors.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the show organisers were unsuccessful, as the reporter was asked to submit questions in writing, which had not been responded to by the time of going to print.
Fellow artistes in the industry, including Black Diva, have condemned such promoters for belittling local musicians and have called for greater respect for homegrown talent.
