Dancing Monkey singer Mwaiwode Nkomwa says the black dance industry has been under sustained attack by the Government, and says it has become the “second most threatened sector in the country”.
He says his group has lost 20% of its dancers since 2011.
He says it is an industry that is being threatened by “political correctness”, and says there is “zero tolerance” for discrimination.
But he says there has been no reduction in his group’s demand for funds.
“There are people here who say ‘we want to be an artist, we want to make a living’, but when we see them with a hatchet, or a knife, or whatever, they don’t understand the damage that has been done,” he said.
We have been threatened with violence, and we have had our own people killed.” “
It’s been a very difficult time for the industry.
We have been threatened with violence, and we have had our own people killed.”
Nkomswa says he has also lost the support of some of his fellow African dance music artists who have fled the country in the past few months.
He said his band had only one regular performer and was only able to produce one album a year.
Nkwomwa said that there was also “no government control over the music industry”. “
I can’t just stand up to the government and say ‘I’m going to leave Africa’, I need to support each other.”
Nkwomwa said that there was also “no government control over the music industry”.
He said the Government had been slow to recognise the problem.
“Some of the things that have happened are the biggest obstacles.
There are no restrictions on who can perform. “
The music industry has become a weapon for the government.
“They have lost their livelihood and are trying to make their own living now. “
“In the music, the whole system is changing.” “
But he said that the music would not be allowed to “break the back of the music”. “
In the music, the whole system is changing.”
But he said that the music would not be allowed to “break the back of the music”.
Nkoma has now started a petition to try and get the Government to act.
He is urging all music companies to donate money to the African Dance Music Foundation (ADMF), which supports artists who are struggling.
“Our music is the most important music in Africa,” he told the BBC.
“And if you listen to the music of our artists, you’ll see that it is not the Government that is breaking them down, it’s us who are breaking them apart.” “
He added: “We are not going back into the darkness, and if you are not doing the work of making music, if you can’t find a job, it is going a very sad and lonely life.” “
And if you listen to the music of our artists, you’ll see that it is not the Government that is breaking them down, it’s us who are breaking them apart.”
He added: “We are not going back into the darkness, and if you are not doing the work of making music, if you can’t find a job, it is going a very sad and lonely life.”
But some have taken a different approach to the issue.
Mr Mwabe, the founder of the African dance movement, called on all music businesses to support ADMF.
“All businesses and organisations, especially the music companies, must support ADMBF to protect the livelihood of African artists and keep them working and supporting their communities,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Let’s not give up and stop this struggle.
Music will continue to grow and prosper in Africa. “
What do we have to lose?
Music will continue to grow and prosper in Africa.
We will never be silenced.”