L’vovo Brings Kwaito to Fans, while Mafokate pulls out

By www.newzimbabwe.com , 12 Jun 2008 | One Comment

South African kwaito star Arthur Mafokate has pulled out of a scheduled UK tour, leaving promoters and fans fuming.

The ‘King of Kwaito’ was expected to be part of a line-up of top South Africa artists including L’vovo Derrango and Chomee performing at the Ntyce Nightclub in London on Friday and Batley Tarveners Club on Saturday, but he pulled the plug on the tour on Monday this week in unclear circumstances.

“L’vovo is a big star and he will make a show of it.”
Arthur Janjawa,Diaspora Productions

Promoters battled through Tuesday to get the Oyi Oyi star to rethink his decision but he would not budge.

In an interview with New Zimbabwe.com on Monday, Mafokate claimed he had not been paid.

He declared: “No artist from 999 will be performing in the UK this weekend. There are a lot of logistics that need to be in place before we embark on a tour and the promoters have not paid me.

“As it stands, I still don’t know when I come to the UK and when I am back in South Africa. I can’t work like that.”

But Mafokate’s claims of non-payment were immediately rejected by the promoters who supplied New Zimbabwe.com with proof of payment for his deposit of R46,827. The money was transferred to Mafokate through Moneygram on Friday last week.

The promoters also availed Mafokate’s itinerary showing he was due to leave South Africa on Wednesday night, and return on Sunday night. Fifteen rooms had been booked at a London hotel for Mafokate and the other artists.

The New Zimbabwe has been told that Mafokate is now due to perform at South Africa’s Youth Day Celebrations at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday – the same day he was billed to perform at at the Batley Tarveners Club, near Leeds.

Adding a further intrigue to the saga, the promoters, Diaspora Productions, have claimed that Mafokate was put under pressure to cancel, and promised a better deal for another tour sometime later this year, by rival promoters who also have a gig lined up for this weekend.

One of Mafokate’s protégés, Chomee, who was expecting to go on her first UK tour posted a brief message on Facebook which betrayed her disappointment. “I was looking forward to the UK,” she said.

Fans were reacting as well. One Thero Zaroty wrote on Mafokate’s Facebook profile: “We have been waiting for the show man… you killed us.”

Arthur Janjawa, a spokesman for Diaspora Productions said: “We are disappointed Mafokate has pulled out at the bidding of some people. He suggested to us that he had been warned not to come because he would be attacked in retalisation for the xenophobix attacks on foreigners in South Africa. The fact is he has no sensible reason for withdrawing from this tour.

“But we now have to look ahead. L’vovo is a big star and he will make a show of it. We also have DJ Sox of Durban’s Finest and DJ Cyndo as supporting acts. The party goes on.”

This is why every one is sure L’vovo will make a big show
L’vovo Derango - Bayang’sukela/ Resista

Janjawa said they would keep the door charges at £20 all night as compensation for Mafokate’s no-show.

L’vovo, DJ Sox and DJ Cndo will be performing at NYCE,London (SE18 6NY) on Friday the 13th of June and at Mama Africa, Leeds(WF17 7NL) on Saturday the 15 of June 2008.

Promotional Video