BY SILISIWE MABALEKA POPULAR South African artiste and entrepreneur Sibusiso “DJ Sbu” Leope has urged African artistes to join hands in collaborations to attain global recognition.
DJ Sbu made the remarks to NewsDay Life & Style last week on the sidelines of the two-day business symposium at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.
The Mzansi singer was the guest speaker and headline performer at the symposium.
“It is always good visiting a country to interact because mingling with other like-minded people who want to succeed opens your mind. I like interacting with other people, we have to collaborate as Africans,” he said.
“Collaborations build artistes as they get exposed to others, hence they acquire more knowledge and skills through them.”
He added: “Collaborations are key, especially in the world of social media and the internet. If I collaborate with someone, I am exposing my talent to people who follow my music and vice-versa.
“That is how I have seen Black Coffee (his compatriot DJ, record producer and songwriter) rising to international standards. At first, he collaborated with other South African artistes and today he has been recognised at the Grammy Awards.”
DJ Sbu said Africans should embrace their artistes.
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“Let us look at other people who have done what we are trying to do before us, let us measure ourselves according to them, let us not steal or do everything they did, but use that as inspiration and take their mode of how to become successful internationally,” he said.
DJ Sbu also talked highly of the late national hero Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi regretting a missed opportunity for a collaboration with the music superstar.
He also acknowledged Jah Prayzah who he said was on talking terms with since they met in 2016 in Harare.
The South African artiste said he would be releasing a new single next Friday after a long break as he was focusing on expanding his business.
“I will be releasing a song titled Maru a Pula, an African song which can be translated as amayezi avula in our native language or (clouds of rain),” he said.
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