Sizwe Sibiya
The lockdown regulations that have just about shut all the avenues for artists and musicians to make a living, have forced many artists to look for an income beyond the borders of South Africa.
There seems to be a working solution for artists who have flown away from South Africa, especially Johannesburg, where adjusted level 4 Covid-19 lockdown regulations have throttled live gigs to death.
Master KG, despite being involved in a dispute over the world famous Jerusalema song with Nomcebo, has been making money in Switzerland where he performed in two gigs on Saturday.
Amapiano artist Focalistic performed in Dubai last weekend while the pop music duo Blaq Diamond performed in Mozambique. Emtee was in Namibia and DJ Themba previously known as ‘Euphonik’ is currently doing a summer tour in Europe.
Other artists, who have not been fortunate enough to be able to jump borders, will have to settle for television and social media live performances and small private gatherings until the restrictions are loosened enough to host in big venues.
In September 2020 after the #VulaPresident artist protest, Scrolla.Africa reported about an electro music DJ (DJ SbiTech) who had just moved to Durban but his high hopes of performing in filled Durban venues, especially night clubs, were hit by the lockdown to a point where he couldn’t afford to pay his rent.
