When stars turn beggars

Malawian musicians have rallied to perform at a concert aimed at raising funds for gospel artist Princess Chitsulo who needs surgery in South Africa for her heart condition.

Chitsulo becomes the third musician in three years to call for help after a medical condition.

First was music legend Stonard Lungu, who sought funds for cancer treatment in Tanzania. Last year, a concert was held to raise funds for gospel artist Geoffrey Zigoma’s cancer treatment, also in Tanzania.

History, it is said, is the greatest teacher.

Yet, despite having faced these problems countless times over, the music fraternity does not seem to have taken any lessons.

Stonard Lungu’s charity concert should have set a precedent aimed at turning musicians into welfare cases when they are in need of medical help.

The fans, who have supported the musicians throughout the lifespan of their music careers, become their only hope.

The artists have to appeal for sympathy to squeeze out money from their fans’ pockets to raise money for their medical attention. But are fans obliged to fund the medicals of the artists?

The need for artists to keep funds for a dry rainy day cannot be overemphasized.

In the song Neneleni, Skeffa Chimoto sings: Ndimakumbukira abambo wanga/anandiuza ukapeza ndalama usayike ngati chokolola uyisunge bwino ngati mbewu.

But if musicians could go with the philosophy Skeffa learnt from his father, then artists need not worry every time they fell sick or face predicaments as they always save for eventualities.

For instance, Zigoma’s collaborative debut Ndathera Pano broke record as it sold over 100 000 copies in three months.

But during his illness, Zigoma relied on charity shows for medical attention.

What is wrong that musicians should be reduced to charity cases each time they fall sick?

Skeffa explains the difficulty musicians have in embracing his father’s philosophy of savings, saying most Malawian artists’ earning are so meagre for any sort of savings.

But he is quick to fish out some exceptions, saying some artists are just careless with their money.

“Some artists are not good at managing their finances and they need managers who can take care of their finances,” says the artist.

He adds that some artists’ music lifespan is so short to support a saving lifestyle and also that some illnesses can be too long that it depletes the savings.

“An artist can save for a month and get sick for more than a year and that will deplete all their resources,” says Skeffa.

Music producer Ralph Ching’amba says it is a shame that the music career is not protected and guarded.

“Zimangovutabut it helps when an artist is on a record deal and the deal should cover their health as well,” noted the producer who has recorded some of the top musicians in the likes of Lucius Banda, Black Missionaries and Anthony Makondetsa.

Ching’amba hails Cosoma for its efforts to improve the welfare of musicians as it makes sure that every musicians and every member of the rights body writes a will and opens a bank account.

“I wish the Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM) was well governed and had even better visions that would benefit an ordinary musician because most of us are pursuing this career without managers or record label and the like,” laments the long-time producer.

Ching’amba suggests establishing a body that should look into the welfare of artist but also help them to be financially independent.

On his part, Lucius expresses disappointment that despite their fame, musicians are still poor.

“We are underpaid and robbed by pirates, and our celebrity status demands of us to e dress well, drive nice cars and live in nice homes and in the end, that pressure leaves us without anything,” explains Lucius.

Soldier said that there is need for the government to introduce levies to all storage electronic devices ranging from CDs to personal computers.

He suggests that a small percentage should be kept to advance the welfare of the artists.