In a shocking revelation, a prominent maskandi artist, Mthandeni Manqele, known as Igcokama Elisha, has claimed that some municipal managers demand sexual favors from musicians in exchange for gigs or payments. Manqele made these allegations in a video where he expressed his disappointment over his song “Paris” not being chosen as Ukhozi FM’s song of the year.
According to Manqele, staging big events in the music industry often requires municipal sponsorships to be successful. However, he has decided that he will never organize such events himself due to the disturbing demands made by some municipality managers. He stated, “There are municipality managers who want to sleep with us as musicians before they approve our events and payments. You will find a man asking you to visit him in a certain hotel in Umhlanga in Durban so that he could have sex with you and approve your gig.”
These shocking claims illuminate the challenges faced by musicians in the industry and raise concerns about the abuse of power and exploitation. Manqele’s decision to avoid participating in such events reflects his unwillingness to compromise his integrity and engage in such unethical practices.
Despite not winning the top spot in Ukhozi FM’s Song of the Year competition, Manqele’s song “Paris” achieved second place. The number one spot was claimed by “Umjolo Lowo” by Khuzani, featuring Luve Dubazane, with a remarkable 993,667 votes.
It is essential that these allegations of exploitation within the music industry are thoroughly investigated. Artists should be provided with equal opportunities and fair treatment, without compromising their dignity. Whether these claims are found to be true or false, they shed light on an issue that demands attention and action to ensure a safer and more just environment for all musicians.