The highly anticipated Ziyakhala Music Festival in Zimbabwe has encountered a setback as South African music sensation Soul Brothers abruptly withdrew from the lineup, citing grievances with the event promoters.
The Imbhaqanga music group was set to headline the festival. Fans were excited, but their sudden exit caused disappointment. The festival was planned for 22 December in Bulawayo and 23 December in Gwanda. It pledged performances by the Soul Brothers. However, a sudden turn of events led to the group’s unexpected exit, casting a shadow over the eagerly awaited concerts.
Why did the Soul Brothers pull out?
In a statement issued by Soul Brothers’ representative, the group accused the festival promoters of engaging in deceptive and fraudulent practices, prompting their decision to pull out from the event. They cited allegations of misrepresentation and breach of contract as the primary reasons behind this drastic step.
“It is with great regret to inform our loyal Soul Brothers fans that we will not be performing any shows in Zimbabwe this December as announced by untrustworthy, fraudulent promoters. This is due to these deceptive promoters known as ‘Imithente Projects’ not meeting any of the requirements set by the Soul Brothers band although they had ample time to do so.
“These individuals promised the loyal fans of the Soul Brothers a show despite both the Soul Brothers and Imithente Projects not reaching a full agreement. It is apparent that they did this to scam the fans into purchasing tickets early while no agreement had been met. We would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologise to our loyal fans for any inconvenience caused. We, as the Soul Brothers are extremely disappointed in the unprofessional and unethical manner in which this situation was handled by Imithente Projects as we were looking forward to enjoying our new album, as well as our classic songs with our fans. We would once again like to apologise to our fans.”
Moses Ngwenya
The band feels sorry for letting down their Zimbabwean fans. They strongly commit to giving outstanding performances. They refuse any association with dishonest dealings.
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The impact of the Soul Brothers’ withdrawal
The unexpected withdrawal of Soul Brothers has left both the organizers and attendees grappling with disappointment and logistical challenges. The festival, envisioned as a celebration of music and culture, now faces a considerable setback as it scrambles to fill the void left by the iconic group.
Fans eagerly anticipating Soul Brothers’ performances met the news with dismay and frustration, as unforeseen circumstances dashed their hopes of witnessing the legendary band in action.
What do the organisers say?
Mandla Dube, from Mthente Projects, said to Chronicle Showbiz that Soul Brothers’ claims were false. He said they didn’t do anything dishonest but admitted they hadn’t paid all the money yet. They promised to pay it before pulling out. The sudden change worried about what might happen at the festival and how it could affect people coming.
The organizers keep working to save the festival. They want to make it fun for everyone. They’re fixing the problems caused by Soul Brothers leaving. They’re planning a new list of performers to keep the festival exciting. Elias Shongwe and local artists such as Insimbi Zezhwane, Madlela Skhobokhobo, Zinja Ziyamluma, Mpilo Ndlovu and La Dee will perform at the concert
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