THE battle of words between the president of Binka, Ngizwe Mchunu and the SABC radio station, Metro FM, is intensifying because of the selection of masked singers at the Metro FM Music Awards.
Speaking on Bhinca Nation, broadcast on MacG’s Podcast and Chill Network, Ngizwe lamented the inclusion of Khuzani, Sminofu, Mzukulu and Mafikizolo who were nominated inBest Maskandi. Mafikizolo was also included in theBest Song of the Year and evenViral Video Challenge and Nkeshemba was put in theBest New Artist.
Ngizwe said he would not cry if these singers were selected for another competition, not for a radio station that is not authorized to play candy music. He said they fought to the point of breaking their hands wanting the music of kamaskandi to be played on the Indonesian channels but to no avail because of the license that does not allow it.
“As they come here to KZN, they want to eat KZN’s money. It is rubbish what is being done to take our masks and put them in the corruption of Metro FM, which knows very well that it does not want something with sexuality, Zulu culture and culture.”
Ngizwe said that Metro FM chose masked women because they want to exploit women. He said that Metro wants to fill the ICC because it knows that fans will come in large numbers to see their heroes. “They don’t play our music because they hate us, these people we stink at. We haven’t learned from them.” Ngizwe said the masked singers were chosen because they are tools used to defraud people.
The Head of Communications at the SABC, Mmoni Ngubane, said it is nonsense that they intend to exploit the bands by including masked singers. “Maskandi music is currently included in the list of songs played on Metro FM, because it matches the rhythm of the station and the listeners who broadcast it and the listeners praise it.”
Mmoni said that they started to show that they like the music of Maskandi and Limpopo, Lekompo, at the Metro FM Heatwave event by hiring musicians of these genres. He said that with the Metro FM Music Awards, they mean to promote the music produced in this country.
“Therefore, the idea that the inclusion of these groups in this competition is intended to exploit musicians is deceiving people. What radio stations do is to pay musicians money for the performance of their songs and entertainment, which improves and sustains the role of music. Metro FM is one of the biggest platforms in this country that highlights the contributions and role of artists in the role.”
Mmoni said the SABC is committed to opening up a forum for debate to discuss the matter in detail.
*The Metro FM Music Awards will be held at the ICC in Durban on April 25.