Eight local traditional music artists are teaming up for a compilation album project in an effort to resuscitate plummeting music sales. Local music sales have dropped drastically since the global credit crunch started biting.

However, Mogomotsi Gaolape, the marketing manager for DDS Records, the company that is putting together the project, says they were unable to convince other cultural music icons to come on board. He explained that the project entails a one-off payment for their jobs.

The eight traditional musicians include giants such as GongMaster, formerly with Dikakapa, as well as Shumba Ratshega, whose dancers recently left to found a rival group. Captain Dira of O A Ja O A Jelwa fame will also contribute a song in the compilation album billed for release at the end of this month.

Although he has just recently dropped a new album, Vomit, who also calls himself Dr Vom, will also contribute a piece, but the brainchild behind the project said the likes of Culture Spears, Dikakapa, and Matsieng cultural groups were approached but turned down the offer, while Ditiro Leero, who is facing sexual molestation charges, was not traceable as he is said to be in South Africa, according to Gaolape.

Other featured artists are Leruarua, Kaizer, Arnold of Ditshimega Traditional group, and one Ledimo, who until recently had been working with Sunshine Records of Pretoria.Gaolape says the album should be out by August 25. "The local music industry is struggling at the moment, we came up with a concept that might possibly resuscitate the sales," the promoter explains.

However, it remains to be seen whether this compilation project will boost sales, after a similar project, a rumba compilation by Franco Lesokwane and Jeff Matheatau, failed to achieve the intended objectives last year.