We are famous but poor, says veteran musician MC Mabasa
Musicians plead for government support
Xitsonga music living legend MC Mabasa has pleaded with the government to assist artists because they are not making money due to piracy and COVID -19 pandemic.
Speaking at Shigamani at the Collins Chabane Local Municipality, during the funeral service of the late musician Eckson Maluleke of Davulela Hembe fame, who died aged 58, Mabasa said artists were being neglected by their own government. “We are positively contributing to society through music but nobody feels for us,’ he said. He said musicians are treated shabbily and when there are shows, only those with connections will perform. “We hear of government events such as Maphungubye Festival Marula Festival but we shall be spectators seeing musicians from outside performing and we do not even know how they are selected,” he said.
Mabasa said the government should take it in good faith because he was using the funeral of his friend to plead for assistance so that there would be change and the government would do something for musicians . His colleague Doctor Sithole was more hard hitting. “It has to do with the calibre of politicians we have today who are concerned with the accumulation of wealth that come the end of the term in Fife years, they would have something,” he said. Collins Chabane Local Municipality mayor Moses Maluleke said he would look at issue raised by people like MC Mabasa. He said his door was always open. Maluleke also attended to issues raised by Hosi Bohani Shigamani about the uncompleted road from Mdabula to Mphambo past Shigamani which was reportedly to be being tarred while it is not.
He said he was ready to accompany the community to whatever office they want to go for service delivery assistance. “Hosi Shigamani knows that we are always at your beck and call,” said the mayor. Other speakers included Dr Thomas Chauke, legendary songbird Sunglen Chavalala, band manager Etus Makamu and pastor Velaphi Khosa on behalf of the Shigamani Pastors Fraternity. It was a hero’s funeral that drew music veterans such as Elias Baloyi, Alpheus Maluleke of Ntlhaveni Brothers, George Maluleke and George Ntlemo amongst many other musicians who graced the occasion. Hosi Shigamani hailed the late singer whose musical contributions have put the community on the map.
Family representative Denis Salane spoke highly of the late singer and said his music contributed immensely to nation building. “If he was singing vulgar songs, we would not be having so many people coming from all corners to pay their last respected,” said Salane. Thomas Maluleke, who is the chairperson of Vanwanati Clan in Southern Africa said condolences came from as far as Malawi and Mozambique. “The Vanwanati Clan is proud of him as he was a good ambassador through his music,” he said. The Shigamani Junior Buca soccer field had never experienced such a big crowd. It was a fitting send of for the ordinary man who sang his way to the top.
