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Soul Jah Love

Tawanda Marwizi Arts Correspondent—-
Promoters of the SADC Music Festival have pulled off Soul Jah Love from their list of performers after the musician allegedly breached his agreement by signing another contract with a different promoter, Prince Sithole. Last week the promoters were involved in a heated dispute with Fungai Dege of Mhofu Promotions alleging Sithole had threatened him with death over the Soul Jah Love issue.

Dege who is one of the leaders of Mhofu Promotions said they have decided to drop Soul Jah Love from the music fete because he failed to comply with his contractual obligations.

“Our contracts states that the musician would not perform in South Africa a month before our show but he was not honest prompting a dispute between us and Sithole,” she said.

She said they had sent one of their managers to get their R 5000 performance fee deposit back from the musician.
“We are told that the musician’s management is not available to repay the money and we want them to know that if our manager comes back to South Africa tomorrow (today) without the money we will be forced to take the legal route,” he said.

Soul Jah Love’ manager only identified as Khaya said they were informed about the development but denied that they were not willing to give back the money.

“I have the money right now so let them come and collect it. We signed the other contract well before theirs and we are not into music for relationships but for business,” he said.

He insisted that they are not the ones who have pulled out of the gig but the promoters decided to drop them.
The show that will feature musicians Alick Macheso and Malawi’s Black Missionaries will be held in Cape Town on September 20.
Dege said they had put Soul Jah Love after a demand for a dancehall artiste by some fans.

“Fans requested us to have a dancehall artiste on the event and that’s how he came into the picture,” she said.
Macheso will also play on the next day at a show dubbed “Malawi family day” with the Black Missionaries.

Macheso’s manager William Tsandukwa said the tour was another platform for the musician to share stage with his counterparts from Southern Africa.

“This is another platform for us to share the stage with musicians from Southern Africa and we are looking forward to a great experience down there (in SA),” he said.