19 Jun 2022

Organisers of the Ghanzi Invasion Music show, Events 101, have clarified Makhadzi’s double bookings that recently appeared in social media.

Whilst Ghanzi residents were excited and preparing for Makhadzi’s performance during the annual Ghanzi Agricultural Show on July 30, another poster emerged of the Venda-born singer’s performance in the United Kingdom on the same date.

Makhadzi’s UK show turned out to be a tour of the diaspora including Canada, whilst the Ghanzi gig was just a show.

Following social media rants regarding the double bookings and confusion as to where the Tshentsha Magiya hit maker will be jumping up the stage, organisers of the Ghanzi Invasion Music show, on Friday, called a press conference to clear the double booking mess.

“Indeed Makhadzi was double booked,” said Mogomotsi Gaolape of Events 101 who explained that after discovering the songstress UK/Canada tour flyer on social media, they engaged with her booking company Open Mic Productions in South Africa.

Gaolape said Open Mic Productions acknowledged that the double booking mistake was made from their office as they had a change of management staff who seemed to not know about the UK gig. “According to the owner of Open Mic Productions, the new bookings management from his company were not aware of the UK gig hence booked Makhadzi for Botswana gig on the same date,” said Gaolape.

He said Open Mic Productions acknowledged their mistake and said they asked for a way forward regarding the issue as Events 101 was continuing with their show in Ghanzi without Makhadzi as the main act. “We had options including cancellations of either two shows, postponement or replacing Makhadzi with another seemingly renowned artist from their company,” he said.

However, Gaolape said cancellations nor postponement were not an option. He said the Ghanzi Invasion Music show was special as they planned it on riding on the Ghanzi Agric show patrons whilst for Open Mic Productions it could not work for obvious reasons as well as the fact that it was a tour.

Gaolape also said they had been engaging with the Open Mic Production management for a replacement of the artist. He, however, said other artists such as Master KG and DJ Ngwazi were still part of the line-up and they were in the process of enhancing the line up with big local acts for the success of the show.

He also said the show would have artists from the western region as they were about empowering the creative arts in that region as they would be hosting a show in Ghanzi.

Meanwhile, Ghanzi Invasion Music show has partnered with Jarateng Pub and Grill.

The owner of Jarateng, Kaelo Sabone explained that their partnership came in to offer an experience of a barbecue style of cooking meat.

Sabone, a Ghanzi native from Karakubis, said they would be showcasing pit barbecue which adds a distinctive smoky taste to the various meats they would be serving at the show.

Additional partnership, Say Say Entertainment by yet another Ghanzi native, Sadie Swartz will be providing VIP experience at the show.

 “I want to give my folks an experience of my events in my home town,” said Swartz. She said the VIP package for the show at a cost of P1 500 was inclusive of secure car parking, finger foods, Jameson whiskey and six mixers. Ends