adminShowbiz Correspondent
BULAWAYO artistes meant to perform with South Africa’s Cassper Nyovest are up in arms with promoters of the show who they allege are offering them paltry performance fees.
The Phumakim’ hit-maker is scheduled to perform in Bulawayo on April 25, backed by Ninja president Winky D, DJ Stavo, Bulawayo’s Cal_Vin and tribal house group Djembe Monks at Hartsfield Rugby ground.
The show is a joint venture between Harare and Bulawayo promoters where 3D Events Management were tasked to meet the needs of Bulawayo artistes – Cal_Vin and Djembe Monks while Harare-based Zim dancehall promoter, Patrick ‘Chipaz’ Chimbodza and Dee Nosh Inc are responsible for Winky D, Cassper and DJ Stavo.
A disgruntled Cal_Vin yesterday said he was offered $100 for a 30-minute set while the four-member Djembe Monks was offered $200 by 3D Events promoters. Cal_Vin, an up-and-coming hip hop artiste who was recently approached by Cassper Nyovest for a possible collaboration said he had charged the show promoters close to $500, only for them to reduce the amount, telling him he was worth $100.
The Zikhupani hit-maker said it was unreasonable for them to be shortchanged when they wanted to make money off their art, especially considering that they will be sharing the stage with an international multi-award-winning artiste.
“This is unfair to us as artistes. Honestly what am I going to do with $100 in this day and age? The promoters aren’t giving us the dues that we deserve. It’s senseless for us to be in the arts,” said Cal_Vin.
He said the Cassper Nyovest promoters had shown no remorse, leaving him to believe that they just wanted to make a quick buck off them.
“I know very well that Winky D and DJ Stavo are getting the amount they asked for, what’s so different about us? They just want to put us on the line-up so they say we had a show in Bulawayo which featured artistes from there,” Cal_Vin said.
One of the Djembe Monks members, Black Cee also had no kind words and expressed disappointment with the way 3D Events had treated them thus far.
“Mduduzi Mdlongwa from 3D Events imposed a figure of $200 on us and said the people paying artistes were offering that amount, which we later found out wasn’t true.
“To end all the confusion, I decided to call one of the Harare promoters, DJ Dee Nosh to ask what was happening. He told me that they didn’t reduce our performance fees and said it was the people from 3D who had given them a lower budget with the reduced performance fees,” Black Cee said.
Contacted for comment DJ Dee Nosh (real name Kudzai Matongo) who was in Bulawayo working on logistics for the April 25 show said the issue of artiste payments had since been resolved.
“When I was given the budget by 3D Events, I was shocked and wondered if the artistes would even pitch up as the amounts were just too little.
“With amounts like $100 per artiste, even artistes from Kadoma, where I’m based, won’t agree to perform. So I met Cal_Vin and Black Cee over the weekend and it was agreed that they shall get the money that they had initially requested,” Dee Nosh said.
He said preparations for the show were going on well despite the hiccup with Bulawayo artistes.
Mdlongwa’s mobile phone was however unreachable yesterday.
Online Reporter