9 November 2009
There appears to be some "Makhirikhiri"(sabotage) and "Metsametsano (fighting) between the national radio station and a leading music icon.
Cultural music star Shumba Ratshega, who popularised the words, Makhirikhiri and Metsametsano, in his smash hit album, Makhirikhiri is convinced the national radio station is up to some dirty tricks geared towards pinning him down. He is pointing fingers at a certain radio announcer at Radio Botswana (RB) for his disappointing music sales and disintegration of his group members.
Shumba, real name Moses Malapela, told Monitor that a former buddy at RB1 sent him sms messages, warning him that he would bring him "down to mother earth" because he is the one who made him. Now, as Shumba reveals, RB1 has not played his (Shumba) music for over a year. Shumba says his new album, Kuka Ntsu, whose sales have been disappointing, has not enjoyed any airplay on RB1 since it was released last year.
In fact, the star, who hails from Bobonong, claims that on Sunday he was so frustrated he drove into RB1 music library and demanded to take away his music, but he was told he could not do that. "What else could I do, my music has no use for them. It is just there, but they are not playing it," Shumba fumed.
The music star claims a certain RB1 presenter who used to be his buddy has warned him he would reduce him to a pauper. He is blaming the same presenter for the disintegration of his group, which has since split into two groups, Pitsa ya Setso, and Dikgokong, forcing Shumba to employ new dancers and backing vocalists.
However, Shumba was not forthcoming as to what could have resulted in the fallout, but he claimed it has nothing to do with any deal going sour. "I tried to check with this guy whether I could do something for him, because I have never been reluctant to assist him in the past, but it seems he just got angry with my success, and started chopping me.Now I'm praying to God to help me," Shumba said.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for Radio Botswana, Neoyame Shirima, would not confirm Shumba's allegations after promising to revert to the Monitor with some evidence two weeks ago. The Monitor wanted her to say how often Shumba's music was played over the last 12 months. She has not responded.
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