The Sunday Mail
The dearth of creativity is the bane of art. And local musicians seem to have joined the conmen bandwagon as they fast run out of creativity.
With the music industry a dog-eat-dog affair, a number of artistes have resorted to chicanery as they launch ghost products.
The trend transcends veteran and budding musicians; with the biggest culprits being superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, Suluman Chimbetu, Peter Moyo and Douglas Chimbetu, to mention but a few.
Repeatedly, revellers have been short-changed after gracing album launches only to be told on the day of the event that the product is not ready for public consumption.
Generally, the showbiz industry (minus dancehall) has been on a downward trend and only themed events like all-white parties, birthday bashes, and farewell and welcome home gigs have attracted healthy crowds.
But even then, themed gigs are losing their lustre.
Musicians have now opted for launches of albums and songs that are not ready, taking money from their fans and walking away scot-free.
What boggles the mind is why an artiste – who is in constant touch with the record company – would announce a launch date weeks or months ahead and then fail to deliver.
Maybe it would be forgiveable for a rookie, but when seasoned artistes like Tuku, who has been in the music industry for decades, sells a bogus album launch to poor and unsuspecting Zimbabweans, then surely we have a crisis.
The veteran musician was supposed to have officially unveiled copies of his 62nd album, “Mukombe Wemvura”, to the public on October 4, but that was not the case.
To date, that album is yet to be seen. Only the lyrics and interpretations of the songs were availed. Perhaps it’s a marketing stunt?
Tuku recently took a break from the local showbiz stage and the album launch at the Harare International Conference Centre was supposed to be his first major gig after that brief pause.
Last week, Samanyanga – as Tuku is also referred to – would not explain what was happening.
“I would prefer a face-to-face interview, but right now I am busy with other things and I can’t leave what I am doing,” he said.
Soon after Samanyanga took his fans for a ride, Peter Moyo aka “Young Igwe”, adopted the same formula.
He failed to release copies of his new DVD “Mushonga Mukuru” at the “launches” in Kwekwe, Kadoma and Harare that coincided with the Dhewa Commemoration gigs.
Before this, Peter had said everything was in place for the DVD release. His excuse thereafter was that he was still editing on one of the videos.
“We apologise for failing to meet the set launch dates, it was due to circumstances beyond our control. But we will soon announce the official launch date. By then I’m sure we will be having enough copies for our fans in stock,” he said.
Budding dendera musician Douglas “Dougy” Chimbetu, son of Allan, ended up embroiled in a war of words with his record company Diamond Studios after he failed to release his second album at a “launch ceremony” at Mbare Netball Complex in Harare.
The studio accused Douglas of prematurely announcing the launch date and subsequently left him high and dry.
“We are not to blame. Dougy rushed to announce the launch date when he in actual fact he knew that the album was still being mastered. How do you launch a product that is not yet ready for the market? The studio should be responsible for organising launch dates,” said Diamond Studio’s marketing manager John Muroyi.
Early this year, his cousin Suluman launched an unfinished DVD of his album “Syllabus” at Harare’s Book Café.
It seem only two songs – “Sean Timba” and “Njiva” – were complete. And the DVD is still to hit market shelves.
Sulu’s camp indicated they were making “technical adjustments” and the DVD would be released soon with Jive Zimbabwe marketing and distributing it.
