By Celani Sikhakhane
- uKhozi FM released its top 20 songs for the New Year countdown, but Khuzani Mpungose and Mthandeni Manqele were nowhere on the list.
- Maskandi fans say the radio station is unfair and biased after the popular genre was pushed out of the Song of the Year race.
Two of the biggest names in Maskandi music have been left out of uKhozi FM’s Song of the Year contest — and their fans are not happy.
When the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s uKhozi FM released its top 20 list last week, fans were shocked to see that Khuzani Mpungose and Mthandeni Manqele didn’t make the cut.
The two artists are among the most popular and awarded in the genre. But they are also rivals, and their fan base is known for heated clashes — which have dragged the radio station into trouble in the past.
With over 7 million listeners, uKhozi FM’s Song of the Year title is seen as one of the biggest prizes in South African music. The winner is decided by public votes, and for years, Maskandi artists have dominated thanks to their loyal following.
Now fans are accusing the station of bias and favouritism. Some say uKhozi FM is trying to move away from the genre completely, while others believe the station is still favouring Khuzani too much.
In 2021, a group of Maskandi fans and artists called “Amabhinca” threatened to protest outside uKhozi FM. They claimed the station was only playing music by a few artists — mainly Khuzani — and ignoring everyone else.
There were even allegations that some artists had to pay bribes to get airplay.
The matter got so serious that poet Mzwakhe Mbuli was brought in as a mediator.
The station has also faced backlash before over how it selects songs. Some artists have walked off stage after being booed. There was even a legal fight over who owns the idea of the Song of the Year countdown.
This year’s list has reopened those wounds — and fired up fans who believe their music is being silenced.
Pictured above: Popular and award-winning Maskandi artists Khuzani Mpungose and Mthandeni SK Manqele kicked out from the Song of the Year.
Image source: Instagram
