HARARE - Female dancehall artistes Lady Squanda and Bounty Lisa failed to show up for a highly-anticipated Kumabhebhi Concert at the Book Café on Thursday night forcing organisers to rope in Shinsoman as a last-minute replacement.
Kumabhebhi Concerts, a brainchild of musicians Cindy Munyavi and Clare Nyakujara — are meant to promote female artistes.
Thursday’s show was supposed to be the first ever Kumabhebhi edition featuring an all-dancehall cast.
Munyavi was understandably angry with the two artistes for the no-show.
“It is just unprofessional. It explains why promoters at times fume over them (dancehall artistes),” she told the Daily News.
“I am very disappointed. If they did not want to be part of this they should have just said so.”
Efforts by the organisers to bring the two women artistes to the venue proved fruitless as the duo reportedly gave various excuses before switching off their mobile phones.
“Right now I am calling Squanda and she tells me she is coming from South Africa, how does that happen when she knows we have a show here?
“Bounty Lisa keeps on saying she is coming. I have been texting her and her manager tells me she was at the Private Lounge where her husband Soul Jah Love was performing,” said an angry Munyavi who swore never to engage the duo again.
According to Munyavi, the two were supposed to get 70 percent of the gate-takings.
When Daily News contacted Bounty Lisa for a comment she claimed she didn’t turn up for the concert because she was not feeling well on the night of the concert.
“I have a cold. Yes, I was at the Private Lounge but I did not perform. I did not switch my phone off but my battery ran out of power that is why I failed to tell the organisers that I was not feeling well to perform,” she said.
Lady Squanda’s phone was repeatedly unreachable yesterday.
Sister Flame, who was supposed to have shared the stage with Lady Squanda and Bounty Lisa, gave a great performance before giving way to the knight in shining armour — Shinsoman.
The dancehall star, who had a show elsewhere on the night, demonstrated why his track Mawaya Waya was voted the best dancehall track for 2013 during last month’s Zim Dancehall Awards.
“I just came after my sisters called. I am glad I could help,” said a beaming Shinsoman.
This is not the first time that Lady Squanda who was last voted the best female dancehall artiste for 2013 has failed to turn up at a show. Last year she even snubbed a birthday bash held in her honour.
The controversial Squanda also attracted a lot of publicity last year after she faked her own death because she wanted to promote a song called Rufu RwaSquanda.