Zahara show: Bulawayo artistes cry foul

BULAWAYO artistes are up in arms against organisers of the Zahara show to be held next month in the city, saying the organisers sidelined them deliberately. Zahara will perform in Bulawayo on 11 August and the show will be held at Queens Sports Club, with

Winky D being the supporting act.

In Harare she will be supported by Alexio, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana and Buddo Knoxy, among other acts. Her opening acts for the Bulawayo show are yet to be named.

By yesterday jazz sensation Jeys Marabini said he had not been contacted by the organisers of the show to perform with Zahara.

He said it would have been better for organisers to look for artistes in the city than to pay artistes to come from other parts of the country.

"There is no one who has phoned me, maybe they will later on this week. The ideal was to promote local artistes, we do not have to be paid transport or accommodation. All we do is come and play, but promoters will bring people from outside the city, like Winky D. They will need things like transport, accommodation and all, but we can give the same service," said Jeys.

He said local promoters do not take Bulawayo artistes seriously.

PoZee expressed his disappointment that although there were artistes in Bulawayo, they were not being considered for the show.

He questioned why Bulawayo artistes were being labelled guest artistes in their home town.

"The poster says Winky D and guest artistes. How can we be guest artistes when we are in our city? How can they sideline us like this?" said PoZee.

However, Tawanda Chingara of Hardcore World Entertainment, the organisers of the show, said the decision to include Winky D was made so that their target audience of young people could come and watch the show.

He said Otis Ngwabi had confirmed participation and they were yet to talk to Jeys Marabini.

"We are fully aware that Bulawayo artistes want to be there. We have confirmed that Otis is coming and I have not spoken to Jeys, but I will do so. We believe that schoolchildren enjoy Winky D. That is why we have engaged him," said Chingara.

He said last year they engaged artistes from Bulawayo to perform with Tuku.

Zahara won in all the categories she was nominated at the South African Music Awards, taking home the Best Smooth Urban Music Album for Loliwe, Best Collaboration for Incwad' Encane, featuring Zimbabwean DJ George Munetsi, the Special Award: Best Selling Album, Newcomer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year.

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