Time for local artists to stand together

The music festivals are done and dusted. It’s the right time to take stock of current festivals and our artists. The local metro has improved tremendously and is hitting the right note.

It is time that our artists are recognised and paid fairly.

Local artists need to come together and be vocal about the current situation.

Currently it seems festival organisers are doing our artists a favour by giving them a gig.

In the metro we have more than capable performing artists and MC’s who are better than your glorified Jo’burg artist.

The local artists are paid peanuts compared to their Jo’burg counterparts. How long must our local metro artists suffer because they are in the Eastern Cape?

Local artists are paid R12 and Jo’burg artists are paid R50 for doing the same job. It is high time our local artists stand up and be counted.

Let me put it to you, Noxolo Nqwazi (executive director of sports and recreation), that we need a metro artists’ indaba.

As much as there is a minimum wage, we also need a minimum wage for our artists.

They work so hard to prepare and yet are paid crumbs.

This is their career, and yet they are not recognised. We need to show them respect and appreciate their talent.

Music festival organisers, let us show respect to Nelson Mandela Metro artists.

Local artists don’t ask for five-star hotels, hired cars, special rooms with fridge and bar.

All they need is to be paid accordingly and be treated with respect.