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Mbaqanga artists to take anger to streets

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Artists’ representative Sipho Phoswa said their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.
Artists’ representative Sipho Phoswa said their complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

TALKS between Ukhozi FM and mbaqanga artists have reached a deadlock again.

The first time the two parties tried and failed to reach an agreement was in April.

At the time, artists’ representative Sipho Phoswa said: “We are disappointed that none of our complaints were addressed. We asked them to play mbaqanga music on each show and for mbaqanga music to share a slot with maskandi music on Sigiya Ngengoma.”

In May, the artists threatened to shut down the SABC and the South African Music Industry Council sided with them.

At the time, council president Vusi Leeuw said: “We feel undermined and left with no choice but to mute Ukhozi FM. If they continue to ignore us, we will turn Ukhozi FM into a talk station. We will make sure no music is played until our demands are met.”

Artists are now planning a march to the station. Sipho said: “We even wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa but we received no joy. We now have no choice but to embark on a march to demand fair airplay for mbaqanga. The march will take place on 3 August. We’re still deciding if it’ll be in Durban or Joburg.”

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The Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa’s secretary general, Howard Msomi, said: “We’ve been patiently waiting for a resolution to this matter. Unfortunately, all efforts were fruitless and for that reason, we’re endorsing the march to Ukhozi FM. We’re saddened mbaqanga’s not properly promoted by an indigenous station.”

SABC spokeswoman Gugu Ntuli said the station management was not aware of any planned march.

“In terms of mbaqanga music, this genre is prioritised and scheduled on the station’s playlist on a daily basis like other genres,” said Ntuli.

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