The Zambia Association of Musicians says it is upset that renowned South African band Freshly ground was allowed to perform in Zambia Wednesday evening without a permit.
Freshly ground performed during the launch of Diamonds Casino in Lusaka on Kafue Road.
Association Chairman Maiko Zulu said in an interview that the promoters of the concert should be taken to task by the National Arts Council for illegally bringing foreign artistes.
Zulu said procedure requires that all foreign artistes coming to perform in Zambia should obtain clearance from NAC.
He said investigations by the Zambia Association of Musicians indicate that the South African band was not cleared by NAC.
Zulu said local promoters should value Zambian musicians and stop the trend of rushing to bring in foreign artistes to perform at events that local musicians could handle.
NAC are sleeping on the job!!
are zed musicians also cleared wen they r invited by fellow zambianz 2 perform abroad…….
They probably don’t,and probably get away with it by being paid under the table rather than through the tax system. By law an artiste/worker is free to practise their profession without a permit if they are not being paid. If we can not prove that those South African fellows were paid, then we have no case, I think is ho it works. I’d recommend clarifying with other sources, though.
Maiko on the firing line. @Kayz. i asked myself that question Mr Zulu should answer that one. Ati local artist can handle.
Ba Maiko naimwe
We have poor quality of music and musicians. Leave the organizers alone. Who clears Zambian musicians abroad? Just improve your music and you will be be invited to perform.
The type of music I hear on Zambian radio is really poor. Give me a good West African or South African band anytime. Anyway, going by the trouble I had with Zambian red tape, I can imagine how hard it is to get the so called permit. How easy is it to obtain the permit? Is there a website where one can apply from?
8-| ba micheal pleaaase! Give us a break. Your behaviour towards foreign artists will prevent you from performing in other countries as well.
Ba Maiko fleshly ground can not be compared to Zambian bullshit muzician. they perform live unlike these zambian copy cats i’m better more musician who plays live than the so called zambian musician
You’re right about that. The only Zambian musician I could consider seriously is Maureen Lilanda, and even she has to lower her standards sometimes to deal with the local scene. The music scene in South Africa is highly developed, and quality standards are very high compared to our current Zambian scene. In South Africa you the industry is mature by international standards. In Zambia most hit songs are of sub-standard audio quality and engineering, and live performance is pretty whack. The issue about the work permit is valid, though, only if they got paid for the job. What would be sad would be using a noble cause for misguided reasons. We would like to build Zambia and buy Zambian, but we would also like good quality. We should learn from others.
JEALOUSY AT WORK. VERY EMBARASSING.
@ 2 yes Zambian musicians have be cleared to perform, when I promoted an independence event, they needed visas to come to the country and perform.
Visas are not permits, iweeee!!!
Manje ba zulu inu, your artist too much insults, it is better foreign less insult
imagine sembe ni kanene alipaja sembe bantu bamvele chani “yafwampuka, yazingenesa, yamfwampunka yazinginesa” KUYIMBA SIBALESA MANJE KAIMBIDWE?
No need to cry over foreign musicians, Zulu. Zambian music is, to all intents and purposes, mainly crap.
If you are a Zambian you are a true patriot. We can only fix a problem we admit exists. Why subject oneself to crap when one has been listening to good quaity imports all his/her life (and at some point good quality local productions, but that was a long time ago.) The potential to improve Zambian music is there, but the arrogance is a problem, and this blind patriotist populism going around needs to be vaccinated.
Zulu you are a very funning guy! Zambian musicians can not sing, they mimicking on recorded music! Stop being silly!
Oh please….what is this about.There wer some zambians performing as well..i.e Impact band. People had a great time, i think more foreigners should be allowed to easily perform in Zambia. We are so tired of watching the same shows here!!The band was great, no miming..it was just excellent!!Even u send your musicians to perform out of the country…..BIG UP TO FRESHLY GROUND WITH OR WITHOUT PROCEDURE!!!
#10 @DestinyMS, every foreign artist gets a visa to enter Zambia. The only difference is that they get theirs at the port of entry in Lusaka unlike the UK where you get visas beforehand. The clearance Maiko is talking about is not that. It’s from the National Arts Council which is just another hurdle to block foreign artists from competing openly with local ones. If our local guys are not using original instruments and are just singing about “Iwe gelo, pakafye nkakupe”, they will be outdone by genuine foreign musicians.
We still have good musicians at home. Maiko Zulu himself and Ras Willie to name but two.
Don’t make out like all foreign artists play instruments. Kwaito artistes like Mandoza who performs to computer tracks do gigs in Z Maiko is trying to protect a yet to bud industry from the sharks that would swallow it. Support him
#14 Sebana Wikute, thank you for the clarification. Well be it with instruments or not, an artist has to convey a message. If the artists dida better job, why not collaborate and work together. The National Arts Council allowed it, therefore ZAM should take it up with them.
Ba Miko nichamba chakubvutani mumutu. Its because your music is poor and do not take advantage of what Chola Boy Guy Scott- Veep said when he hosted you and colleagues. Promoters have rights to bring the like of Usher, Jay Z, Justin Bieber, Rihana, Mandoza, etc without NAC. What value will NAC add to clearance of foreign musicians? Ma rubbish ya chamba bati!
Ba Maiko chillout naimwe, permit for what? as if we are in Stalin’s Russia, do you get a permit when you are on tour in Zimbabwe or SA.
Do not complain too much. Zambian music is popular in Malawi and our musicians are on high demand.Ooooooooooo
Ba Maiko I’m very disappointed in you mudula given that people enjoyed themselves at this gig. I thought you were a progressive fella, just pull up your socks.
Yes take action if demed illegal. Keep on protecting local music.. Locals first.. foreigners second. It will help stop large cash leaving the country.. pumped in Zam music industry. We are tired of seeing Zambia looked like a child whereby politician flock for medical to SA instead of investing local for the benefitial of every Zambian. They only talk about going for medical treatment, if they review the amount spent, everyone will question why why..
Disappointing comment from Maiko. I know Freshly Ground and I pray one day Zambian musicians are able to perform live with the same quality as this band. I have been to some live shows by so-called Zambian musicians that were pathetic.
Instead of crying foul over permits just work hard on your stuff and compete favourably with other heavy weights. As far as I am concerned, bar The Sakala Brothers and maybe even Ballad Zulu noone of the so-called Zambian musicians can handle any live performance. Its pathetic the quality of some of these shows that pass for live shows. Grow up Michael, step your acts.
Yes! Good job! There is nothing special about them! I support you 100% If this was a Zambian doing such a thing in SA we wouldnt hear the end of it! Let justice be served next time they won’t do it again:o
Maiko Zulu
Hey, Buti, you look like one of us here back home in South Africa. Are a Sotho speaker or a Tswana speaker? In fact you resemble a person of Xhosa and San decent. In fact, Zambians in the western province and southern province look like us South Africans. Stop moaning, lets enjoy each others’ companies. Bye, bra
Hey, brother Maiko Zulu, calm down, no need for tantrums.That is not called for brother Zulu, I am sure we can all share the cake, instead of tearing each other into pieces. We South Africans are marketing Zambian products and sites if those entities belong to us. We are doing this because we release that our region is blessed with immense talents and natural resources. Hey, brother Zulu come and enjoy your vacation here in Cape Town. You look like a descendant of Xhosa and Khoisan people. Bye bra.
Zambiana musik is hollow
Mwamvela jelasi ba Miko, just go back and rehearse please, we need you to show you are better, not complaining about permits
BA Maiko please just talk about the permit not comparing Freshly Ground to our local guys.I have seen a number of live Zambian bands…… Oh God…..SMH. You go back pa You tube and check Freshly ground bring the house down with Ma….Cheri
Ati local musicians could handle
Maikko you must be jayed how would you compared zed mizik to freshly ground muzika
Maikko you must be jayed how would you compared zed mizik to freshly ground muzika.me if my children bring zambian music in the house i beat.
How do Casinos operate in the Capital of a Christian nation. PF government?
Hmm. So if a foreign lawyer or doctor turns up and sets up practice with no permit then that’s cool. Wedding Syndrome. Thus named by moi because we will spend a fortune on flowers, clothing, venue, food and complain about the musician daring to charge a fee. This is why musicians who could have died millionaires leaving estates to their families for 70 years after death died poor. Not saying the quality of performance is not questionable but there are basic rules that improve the lot of local versus foreign and musicians are not exempt just coz the locals need to up their game. Funny me. Defending an industry that had no respect for itself when I was forced to experience it :)
freshly ground vs zed musicians, ni patali. for your infor, they are the ones ( or at least their lead singer is the one) who sung with shakira that 2010 world cup anthem.
Some comments here just show how many people are ignorant about laws and proceedures of a given society and that is why very few bloggers will hide their identities. Zambia has laws which must be followed and we will protect them. Tax evasion is a serious crime and that is what i smell here. Only mature bloggers like Equilizer can appreciate such concerns and debate constructively, the rest ni mbuzi. This is neither personal or xenophobic. We love our foreing musicians and we want them to come to Zambia but not through the window and we will say it as it is so if others like Sakala and Vocanologist cant take it, they can suck it because we will protect our laws 24/7. Viva la Revolution!
Some comments here just show how many people are ignorant about laws and proceedures of a given society and that is why very few bloggers will show their identities. Zambia has laws which must be followed and we will protect them. Tax evasion is a serious crime and that is what i smell here. Only mature bloggers like Equilizer can appreciate such concerns and debate constructively, the rest ni mbuzi. This is neither personal or xenophobic. We love our foreing musicians and we want them to come to Zambia but not through the window and we will say it as it is so if others like Sakala and Vocanologist cant take it, they can suck it because we will protect our laws 24/7. Viva la Revolution!
Abash NAC!! Abash music, the channel of evil!! Maiko Zulu, abash drug smuggling and cannabis sales!! Just say no. Ohohoho!!
WANTHAZA:
The Arts Council or the Department of arts the ministry responsible of arts and of course the main body in this case ZAM must be aware of the foreign artists whether big or small they must posses a tempral membership to that body of artist in that country South African artist know that. Practicing musicians cant leave their country to perform for free they are paid before they perform. Its un fortunate that our local promoters are crafty. A South Out fit was abandoned by promoter in Malawi only to be rescued by a Body for musicians to come to rescue. We need to be patriotic let us suport what we have and improve
Music and arts are God given gift and need no permission. We should be happy that times are over when music was restricted by Dictators.