Bulawayo musicians hit back at Macheso

BULAWAYO musicians have hit back at Alick Macheso over his rant last week saying he should not gain support from fans by mocking them.

Macheso mocked Bulawayo artistes during his show on Thursday night, saying he could fill up Bulawayo's Amphitheatre and they could not although he was playing in their mother city.

He mocked musicians such as Jeys Marabini, Chase Skuza, Mokis Connection and Sandra Ndebele.

Fans in the Amphitheatre gave cheers of appreciation as Macheso said this and laughed that he had noticed that Bulawayo artistes could not fill up the venue.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Majahawodwa "Jeys Marabini" Ndlovu said Macheso should stop making fun of Bulawayo artistes.

He said they also had their own crowds and every musician has his or her time to shine.

"Macheso must stop his mockery of us because one day we will get there. We have our own crowd and he should not forget that. Bulawayo musicians are not happy with his ranting. Macheso should not just say whatever he wants in a public space as if he has tried to engage us," said Jeys.

He said he tried to phone Macheso to iron out the finer details for their show in Hwange but Macheso was not returning his calls.

"I phoned him a week before his Bulawayo show and Macheso said we shall talk when he was in the city. On Wednesday his phone was unreachable and on Thursday it was the same. I tried to call his manager and he was hanging up on me. So he should not lie and say he has tried to engage us. I think he has a problem with us because he is always saying this in the media," said Jeys.

His colleague, Chase Skuza, said Macheso should tell the truth because there were many liaisons that they had to do collaborative shows.

He said he could not just come and perform at Macheso's show uninvited. "Angatshayi inja efihla umphini. If Macheso does not invite me to his shows to perform how can I come to that show? He should propose to perform with us and not say he looked for us when he did not do so," said Skuza.

He said Macheso should engage musicians from the southern region when he performs at shows so that he can promote them also.

"Macheso might have the love to work with us, but he should press his promoter that since he is in Plumtree, Beitbridge, Bulawayo or Hwange, he should look at the local acts that are there. Macheso can approach me, Jeys, Mokis Connection, Sandra or Ndolwane. I am sure that if he approaches us to perform with him personally I would not object," said Skuza.

He said every week he was performing at different venues around Matabeleland South Province.

"Angila viki yamahara, last week I was performing eMaphisa. So he should be promoting the musicians that he mentioned when he goes to their localities," said Skuza.

He said it was about time musicians hold collaborative shows in order to promote each other.

"We should do shows as a group, with me, Jeys, Ndolwane, Mokis and Sandra so that we promote each other and even go to Harare and perform there for the fans," said Skuza.

Fans said what Macheso said was very immature and should not laugh at his colleagues but rather help them. Others said although Macheso was stating a mere fact he should not boastfully mock his compatriots.