ZAKWE, DUNCAN WITHDRAW

SIPHOFANENI - Yet another show had to go on without the main acts of the day as they pulled out last minute.

With a lot of fun lovers having looked forward to this past weekend because it was the busiest weekend yet in the entertainment industry, they have had to carry on with their weekend fun activities without getting the experience of watching their most loved South African acts. With South African group Mafikizolo and award-winning singer Sjava billed to perform at the Standard Bank Luju Festival that took place at House on Fire this past weekend and having both acts pulling out, the Grand Saturday show which took place at Siphofaneni experienced same as their main artists, all the way from South Africa Duncan and Zakwe, cancelled their performances last minute. The show was hosted by Sibusiso 3T Simelane as it also coincided with Lyrikal Busta and Sean Cast’s ‘Prayers of a Hustler’ album.

Anticipated

Many fans had anticipated to watch the pair perform, but were met with disappointment as news of the pair not coming started circulating from the better part of the afternoon. Trouble ensued when Duncan posted on his Facebook page informing his fans that he was not coming to the country to perform at Siphofaneni. This then lead to the post getting a mixed reaction from some emaSwati who are also social media users. As if this was not enough, the artist was told by other social media users that it was not safe for him to perform at the event because emaSwati were not happy with the current state the country was in and the unrest that hadbeen happening in the kingdom.  The pair further shared on their social media that they would have loved to perform again in the country as this would have not been their first time here.

“We have been receiving a lot of threats and messages from people who claim they are emaSwati and are not happy with our booking in the country, it’s not just us but our management, friends and family and because of this, we decided to unfortunately withdraw,” lamented Zakwe in a video he posted on his social media pages. Speaking to one of the organisers of the show on this, Sibusiso 3T Simelane, he said as an organiser of these shows, he was disappointed at how things were happening in the industry. “Not to say I am not acknowledging what’s happening in the country, but it seems like we are starting to sabotage ourselves as these shows put food on the table for the very same artists who have been without jobs/gigs for over 18 months,” Simelane said.

Scale

“It is important for us to think about these shows at a larger scale because it does not end with the artist performing on stage, think of the vendors who get the opportunity of running their businesses during these events, the security, the tailor, the make-up artist, the sound guys, back-up singers, the list is endless, where should these people get money for their wants and needs if we keep cancelling shows?” he said. Simelane, however, said they were happy with the turnout and the feedback they had been getting from people. “We were in panic mode for a second when the South African duo withdrew, but seeing how people did not even notice there was something wrong as they danced the night away without causing any drama or commotion was soothing to the soul,” he said.

Temanyandzeni Hlophe from Siphofaneni, who had attended the show with her friends, said despite the absence of the duo, they had fun. “we have been going through a lot as a country and this was just needed, us listening and singing along to our own artists songs was just the highlight of my night and my money’s worth” she said.

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