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ZODWA WABANTU NO-SHOW

06/12/2021 08:32:00 BY MMELI MKHWANAZI

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MBABANE – Local fans of South African dancer Zodwa Wabantu were left disappointed as she did not show up.

This was during the grand opening of Cubana Restaurant and Bar (former Indlela Yekuphila Restaurant) at Mpaka on Saturday. The event was fairly attended with over 500 patrons and over 30 police officers who were deployed to maintain order on the day. The show started in the early hours of the afternoon but fun lovers started cramming the venue at about 5pm in anticipation to see the South African dancer performing.

According to the event organiser, DJ Mfundo Mbhamali. otherwise known as ‘Kool Swazi’, Zodwa Wabantu was set to perform at 5pm but by 7pm the star was no where to be seen at the venue. However, fun lovers were kept entertained by the music from DJ Lady Zee, Twins of A Kind and Kool Swazi’s DJ Njebza to name a few. There were also performances from Illa Penboy’s newly found Team Amapiano Eswatini (TAE) group as they dazzled the crowd with their dance moves and newly-released Amapiano songs.

Performance

Lyrikal Busta and Sean Cast also delivered a spectacular performance as they performed their songs from their SWAMA nominated album ‘Prayers of a Hustler’. When asked to give clarity as to why the dancer did not honour her booking, DJ Mfundo said he too was left in the dark as his team had done what was expected of them on their part for Zodwa to perform. He went on to mention that there was no clear explanation from Zodwa’s team as to why she did not come to perform as she also posted on her social media platforms that she was on her way to the country on the very same day.

It is worth noting that prior to that, the South African sultry dancer had circulated videos of herself expressing her excitement towards being booked to perform in the country and that she could not wait to be back to her ‘Swati fans.’ DJ Mfundo said he was disappointed by how the day turned out to be as he was looking forward to hosting Zodwa Wabantu yet again as he had previously did before when she came for the Baceth Music Festival in 2019.

Apologise

“I humbly apologise to emaSwati that had anticipated to see Zodwa Wabantu performing, I am also yet to get a clear explanation as to why she did not honour her booking as we did what we were supposed to do on our part,” he said. He further went on to say that it was unfortunate that no one from Zodwa Wabantu’s team had tried to contact them and give clarity to the events leading to her disappearance when she was booked and confirmed to perform. This publication made means to contact Zodwa Wabantu on the very same number it had been using to keep contacts for articles leading to the event. After four attempts and the number ringing unanswered the publication then made other means to reach out to the dancer through sending her an email and questionnaire no responses were received.

Disappointing

One of Zodwa’s fans, Sifiso Sibandze expressed his disappointment as he said: “These South African artists are now starting to take us for a ride. “First it was Duncan and Zakwe in Siphofaneni and now this. “It is disappointing for us fans as I came all the way from Mbabane just to pay E100 for nothing.” Sharing the same sentiments, TibuyileNxumalo said although the dancer did not come, she enjoyed Lady Zee’s set as she had come to party regardless of who was there. In a space of a week, Zodwa Wabantu is the fourth South African artist who did not show up for her performance. Others include Mafikizolo and Sjava who were booked to perform at the Standard Bank Luju Festival, Zakwe and Duncan who were booked to perform at the Grand Saturdays in Siphofaneni.

All the aforementioned artists had sighted that they felt their lives were in danger because of the civil unrest going on in the country and the alleged threats made to them to not perform. Event organiser and artist manager, Dr Say said this behaviour of not pitching up for performances as a headline artist was starting to raise eyebrows.

Red

“Is Eswatini being put on the red for other international artists not to come and perform here? What is going on?” he wondered. On another note, Arts and Culture CEO, Stanley Dlamini said this was an opportunity for local entertainers to perfect their art. “Without having to want to book someone from outside, we have to now start taking our craft seriously and because of that, creatives need to up their game so they get booked to be headliners of these shows,” Dlamini said. He said this was not the end of the industry but an opportunity for local event organisers and artists to book and support each other. “Think of it this way, a lot of money would be saved from booking these international artists and which means local creatives will get the opportunity to be paid better,” said Dlamini.

The grand opening of the hot spot continued as people partied the night away without causing any drama. However, when the clock struck 9pm, everyone was asked to go home because of the ongoing 9pm curfew.