Times Of Swaziland: MEN OF GOD HAVE GOT THEIR OWN DEMONS - ZODWA WABANTU

MEN OF GOD HAVE GOT THEIR OWN DEMONS - ZODWA WABANTU
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BY PHEPHILE MOTAU on 23/06/2019 00:29:00


MBABANE - “Every person has his own demons.” These were the words of popular
dancer, Zodwa Libram who is popularly known as Zodwa Wabantu, who will be
performing alongside men of God in the Baceth Music Festival in August.
Some people have questioned the line-up of the event on social media as it
includes both Gqom artists, hip-hop artists and gospel singers. A poster of the
event was shared on social media sites, with people questioning the reasoning
behind mixing the different music genres.
Other artists who will perform during the festival include Babes Wodumo, Shongwe
and Khuphuka, DJ Tira, Bishop Maculuve and Make Maculuve.
Zodwa Wabantu, who will also be the host of the festival alongside Gedlembane,
is known for her racy dance moves and her barely there outfits. It has also been
reported that she performs while not wearing any underwear.
Libram, who is also known for being outspoken, told the Times SUNDAY that
people’s comments were not her concern; she got paid, and would definitely be
coming to the show. She said she was aware that she had been booked alongside
gospel artists for the show.
She said every person, including the men of God, had their own demons and they
should not concern themselves about her. She added that the promoters of the
event should be asked why she had been booked to perform with pastors. Bishop
Samson Hlatshwayo of the League of Churches said it was wrong to mix worldly
things with religion.
Bishop Hlatshwayo said he knew Zodwa Wabantu – the underwear-free Gqom music
dancer from television and newspapers, and said things were going wrong, and the
gospel of Christ was being spoiled. “We will not say anything, but the
organisers should be careful. You cannot mix the gospel with worldly things,”
he said.
Paraffin and water
He said if a festival involved gospel singers, it should only be a gospel
festival. He said a person could not stand up and preach, and then another
person speak of his own things which did not involve the Bible. “Paraffin and
water will never mix,” he said.
The bishop said he condemned the event, and he did not know how the organisers
of the show came about to make such a decision.
The festival’s Public Relations Officer, Bishop Maculuve, said the artists
would not be performing the same song, and everyone will be doing what they were
booked to do. He said the festival was organised by the shop, Baceth Hardware,
which reached all kinds of people. He said the festival was not a gospel
festival, and it did not belong to any church, but to Baceth, which catered for
people from all walks of life..
“Those who like gospel music will find gospel artists, and those who like gqom
will find Tira and the others,” he said.
He said Baceth was holding the festival for its customers, and all of them
should be catered for. Maculuve added that Zodwa Wabantu and Babes Wodumo would
perform at Manzini Club, and not in church.
He said an artist could hypocritically say he would not sing with other children
of God, and decide not to perform during the show.