VETERAN Jazz icon Bob Nyabinde on Wednesday lashed out at music promoters who did not value services offered by musicians, by paying them a pittance after performing at their shows.
BY PRECIOUS CHIDA
Speaking during a meeting between Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture minister Makhosini Hlongwane and stakeholders in the arts sector, Nyabinde accused promoters of not respecting musicians and their work.
“We are being taken for granted. At one point I was requested to perform at an event in Victoria Falls and the team offered me $100 as payment for my services, which was really an insult to me and my job,” he said.
“What people do not know is that doing music is a well-paying job just like any other job if taken seriously because I have managed to take my children up to university level and they are all now working.”
Dancehall chanter Sniper Storm once complained that he was offered a paltry $50 to be among the local supporting acts for Jamaican star Jah Cure.
The Chabuda Hapana hitmaker urged the government to assist musicians with instruments, as most artistes were still using obsolete gadgets which he said contributed towards negative public perception of musicians.
Hlongwane assured the artistes that government would enforce policies to harmonise artistes’ payments and deal with the other concerns raised by musicians.
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“I don’t like the issue of looking down upon artistes. It does not help in the development of the sector. I have heard of issues where artistes are pelted with bottles and cans on stage and that reflects that artistes are not being esteemed, hence I will definitely fight this issue of insolence,” he said.
