More music promoters affected by Covid-19

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More music promotion managers sent out words of solace to the masses of South Africans after Pres Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of the national shutdown as a means to flatten the Covid-19 curve on Monday.

“We are really disturbed by the spread of the coronavirus in our land,” said Big Ropza. “We are faced with hard times.” He added that the coronavirus, which had many countries suspend travelling, had affected him in many ways. “We are in limbo as artists and music promoters, we can't plan any gigs anymore,” he said. “Since after the emergence of piracy, we have been mostly relying on performances for money, but now we are unable to earn a living.”

Big Ropza was supposed to go to do some gigs in Zambia, Malawi and Ghana early in April. “We are unable to continue with local shows as well, but then we understand the seriousness of the situation we are facing as a country,” he said. “We need to stand together and see that we fight the Covid-19.”

Another prominent music promoter, Rita Dee, said that Covid-19 is affecting the industry massively. “All events have been cancelled and postponed to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, which means artists won't be making any money in these months,” she said. “We are keeping our artists in studio, so they can focus more on giving good music.”

She said that Rita Dee Entertainment had had nine events cancelled and most were university-based events. “So now we have to wait until recess,” she said. “Now, when everyone is under lockdown, music will have its vibrancy online, so expect more content online from us. We hope our economy won't be affected once this is over. Please stay at home. We advise everyone to isolate themselves because the coronavirus is real.”

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.