The Sunday Mail
A top music promoter who is one of the biggest Zim dancehall supporters, Robert Zhuwao, has condemned the “missile-throwing culture” in the industry.
The promoter was speaking in the aftermath of the Kalado show, where the Jamaican artiste had to be rescued by Tocky Vibes as angry, unsatisfied youths bayed for his blood.
The event took place last weekend at Old Hararians Sports Club.
Kalado, who came into the country as an underdog to local performers, delivered a lousy act.
The Jamaican, who only has three popular songs known by local followers of the genre, risked being injured by the cans that were being thrown at him by the ghetto youths after he put up an uninspiring performance.
Tocky Vibes, an outspoken Zim dancehall artiste whose stock is on the rise, had to save the Jamaican singer as angry youths demonstrated against him.
Kalado’s lacklustre performance, worsened by a poor programme of events by the organisers saw the “You Make Me Feel” singer leaving the stage with egg on his face.
However, Zhuwao believes that the habit of showing discontent by throwing missiles on stage is not only bad for the genre, but for the country as well.
“Besides the fact that these artistes will paint our country as an unfriendly destination, this behaviour could actually get someone killed.
“Today, it is the cans being thrown on stage, who knows what will be thrown tomorrow?
“This behaviour is bad, we need to nip it in the bud before it gets worse. Today it’s cans, tomorrow it will be knives and the day after it might be guns — that is not our culture. There is no gangster culture in this country, we are a peace-loving people,” said Zhuwao.
Early this year, a dancehall fan was attacked by angry Winky D fans and later died in hospital after he had thrown can(s) at the top reggae dancehall singer. The fan was protesting a decision by the event organisers to give Winky D four awards.
Life was needlessly lost due to hooliganism and if this behaviour persists, more lives could be lost, property could be damaged and gradually, the genre itself will die as fans and other stakeholders will begin to shun Zim dancehall gigs.
Zhuwao said “awareness, conscientisation and a paradigm shift” would help transform the current local reggae dancehall scene.
“We need to discard people that promote disunity and reward those that bring unity, be it musicians, music promoters, band mangers or even DJs (club and radio). If we do not do that, our industry will become a jungle, that which only those with iron-fists and iron-feet can negotiate — it’s unhealthy,” he said.
Zhuwao, who created a Zim dancehall documentary, The Rise and Rise of Dancehall in Zimbabwe, also believes that promoters who bring in foreign artistes should not be guided by a “rip-off mentality” but strive to add value.
“It is very sad that we have promoters who are completely misguided. It is these misguided elements that do not make proper surveys on the kind of artistes they would be bringing versus the target audience.
“Kalado has only three songs known by the ghetto youths, who happen to be the biggest followers of reggae dancehall. He cannot be put in a stadium or big arena like Old Hararians; he needs to perform in a club — there, he would be accepted,” said Zhuwao.
“The local line-up was too strong,” he complained. “Such a line-up should be reserved for headline international reggae dancehall singers and not upstarts like Kalado; it was obvious he would be upstaged.”
Another reggae dancehall promoter, Godfatha Templeman, real name Simbarashe Maphosa, said artistes should discourage their fans from throwing missiles on stage.
“This is what I know. If we get Winky D, Soul Jah Love, Seh Calaz, Tocky Vibes, Sniper and all other chanters, including emcees like myself, Smylie and Etherton Beenie, campaign against violence, the fans will listen.
“Furthermore, promoters should now ensure that they eliminate bottles and cans at shows by using plastic cups, have people collecting trash in the crowd and search fans thoroughly when they get into show venues,” said Templeman.
