WE ARE WORTH MORE

Auxilia Katongomara and Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Reporters
BULAWAYO artistes have hit out at promoters of the failed Jaiva Gala, saying it flopped because of poor marketing and advertising, not musicians’ lack of appeal.Only 40 fans are said to have paid their way into the show held at White City Stadium Arena a fortnight ago.  The artistes believe they have a great following and are not worth less than $5.

Promoters were forced to reduce the gate charges from $5 to $3, but still it did not make any difference resulting in the show becoming a free-for-all.

The gala featured some of the city’s “top” artistes, among them Jeys Marabini, Sandra Ndebele, Clement Magwaza, Chase Skuza, Martin Sibanda and Ndolwane Super Sounds and Ndux Malax Junior.

They believe they should not be blamed for the flop of the show and blamed the promoter for the low attendance. They cited poor advertising and poor a PA system that was hired by the organisers.

The show was promoted by O2 Squad Promotions led by Onias Nyika, who has reportedly gone into hiding.

Thandazani Nyoni manager of the Martin Sibanda-fronted Ndolwane Super Sounds blasted organisers of the show labelling them as a disorganised lot that lacked knowledge in advertising shows. He said the group boycotted the show as they had better things to do than waste their time on a poorly organised show.

“We know how to promote shows and what this fellow was doing was wrong. There were not enough posters in the city as evidence that there was a show. Honestly if you are serious about promoting a show you use A4 paper to advertise and then cry foul when the show becomes a flop,” said Nyoni.

He said Nyika had a begging bowl when he approached them to perform at the show initially.

“He was begging us to be lenient in our charges because he wanted to promote Bulawayo artistes. We complied but he turns around and uses us to hide his shortcomings and say we should pull up our socks. He is mad,” fumed Nyoni.

“He should pay us in advance, advertise and market well. When the artistes do not attract the audience then he can complain.”

He said wherever they perform they had never failed to fill up their venues.

“We know our fans and what they want. You can go anyhere in the country where we are called to perform, we will have a full house and this promoter says we should pull up our socks. Who is he? When Jeys heard about what he said he was shocked,” quizzed Nyoni.

Jeys Marabini had no kind words for the promoter, saying some artistes had contemplated shunning the show but he was the one who convinced them to perform.

“People were phoning me and telling me that let’s not go to the show because of the way it was organised. However, I took it upon myself to say to them let us go and perform so that fans do not see the politics behind the show. But he turns around and tells us that we are not producing good songs and we should work hard. He is not serious,” he said.

Jeys said he told Nyika that his show was going to be a flop judging by the shoddy way in which it was promoted.

“He should not use us as test dummies in trying out show promotion and turn around and blame us for his failure in his promotion. This is just nonsense what he is saying.  We want our money from him since he signed contracts with us,” he said.

Chase Skuza of the Banolila fame said the PA system that was provided was of poor quality. He said Nyika and his crew were worse than amateurs in their endeavours to promote shows.

“He insults us at the same time he owes us money. The PA system was not for a live band or live show. He should just accept his shortcomings and not look to us. He is the one who called us, begging us to be lenient on him. We did not look for him. He should just go back to the drawing board and pay us our money since we signed contracts,” said Chase.

Sandra Ndebele said the recent media reports that the promoter was left convinced that the artistes were worth less than $5 as they failed to draw a capacity crowd were an insult to Bulawayo artistes at large.

“It is an insult for him to believe that we are worth less than $5. The show flopped because he failed to market it properly.  What is the outside world is going to think about us? He has tarnished our image. How are other promoters going to approach us if they hear that we do not have an audience and are worth less than $5? Remember we are in business,” said Ndebele.

She added: “This is a serious issue and we are taking it up as artistes, he cannot de-market us like that.  Why is he blaming us yet he failed to market the show himself? There were no adverts in the local media or radio. The people did not know that there was such a show in the city.”

She said there were some shows in Harare which featured prominent artistes but charged as little as $2 but that does not mean the artsites are worth that amount.

Tshova Tshova musician, Clement Magwaza, said he was also not amused by the promoter’s blame game.

“He mustn’t blame us for the flop of the show. I did not see even one poster in the city.  He only got them printed three days before. Actually I had to go to National FM radio to advertise the gig and some of the people who turned up had heard me on radio.

“He is even failing to pay us as we speak, we signed $500 contracts and now my band members are suspecting that I was paid and do not want to pay them,” fumed Magwaza.

He said Nyika as a promoter must acknowledge his flaws.

Nyika is reportedly in his Matopo rural area selling his cattle to cover the loss he incurred organising the failed show.

His colleague Morgan Sibanda said Nyika was not in hiding but was in his rural area organising issues to do with payment of the artistes.

“We will talk to the artistes and map a way forward with the artistes on how and when they are going to be paid. Nyika is in Matopo to sell his cattle. On Monday he will be back,” said Sibanda.