BUSY SIGNAL returned to Zimbabwe for a second bite of the cherry.
The first time was so good that the dancehall star could not resist an encore but organisers chose to blow the second coming with some shoddy organisation.
What was dubbed the Southern Africa Music Arts Festival (SAMA) became chaotic as organisers failed to deliver a flawless act, not because of failure by the musicians to deliver but due to poor logistics.
Organisers are to blame for the chaos that surrounded the poor outcome of the concert which was headlined by Reanno Devon Gordon, better known as Busy Signal.
The festival, a brainchild of UK-based Y2K Promotions, failed to live to its billing, disappointing many of the Jamaican superstar’s fans, poor logistics saw the Jamaican star Busy Signal failing to get his signal to the people.
The SAMA festival was slated for Harare and Bulawayo and Busy Signal was the main act.
While Harare was an encore for Busy Signal, the Bulawayo gig was his debut.
The tone for the festival was set by the superstar.
Busy Signal arrived in the country five days before the festival.
He wanted to have time with the fans.
He toured the ghetto suburbs in Harare, Mbare and Highfield.
The tour gave the Jamaican chanter the opportunity not only to mingle with the ghetto youths, but share his skills with them.
It was more like the sensei coming to grade his pupils.
Many dancehall artistes have come from the ghettos and stars like Busy Signal are their source of inspiration.
After interacting with the ghetto youths, it was time to head for the country’s second largest city, Bulawayo, and the international star chose to travel by road and not air, to get a full appreciation of the country.
One cannot help but feel that the Bulawayo leg of the festival was poorly organised, it was as if it happened as an afterthought.
The musician did not have time with fans in Bulawayo.
Bulawayo should have been the place where he mixed and mingled with the ghetto youths since many were anticipating to meet him for the first time.
To make matters worse, the musician did not get to perform at all in Bulawayo’s leg of the SAMA festival.
Winky D, a local great, is said to have walked off the stage in protest to the poor sound system.
A local promoter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the promoters of the festival must next time ensure that their systems are of international standards.
“As promoters, we should ensure that when we plan a show we do our best not to disappoint revellers,” said the promoter.
“When hiring service providers, be it sound engineers, those selling drinks and food we must choose professionals who can deliver world class services.
“Cutting costs destroys not just their reputation but that of artistes as well.
“When we decide to go international, then everything must be top notch.
“Revellers, when they hear the word international, have huge expectations.”
Despite the shortcomings, Busy Signal lived to billing and did not disappoint.
All the shortcomings of the show were again a result of poor organisation by the organisers.
The Harare show, though it happened, also highlighted organisers’ lack of expertise in organising big concerts.
Revellers who were not in the VIP section resorted to using the arena to relieve themselves as there were no toilets.
Many in the VIP section complained of being unable to buy drinks as point of sale machines were not working.
After the Bulawayo incident, one would think that Y2K would take precautions of not allowing bottles in the Harare show, but alas, the bottles were in the show and were used as missiles.
This means the organisers did not consider the safety of both revellers and artistes.
Though there were sound glitches, missile throwing and a number of gatecrashers, revelers resiliently waited for Busy Signal to hit the stage after the local acts’ performances.
The Jamaican superstar proved his worth and delivered a good performance.
He thrilled revelers to the extent of one excited fan jumping onto the stage to offer a live chicken.
To appreciate and honour the Jamaican musician, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) gave Busy Signal a certificate of Zimbabwe’s Tourism Ambassador.
“So honoured, so grateful, humbled… I was chosen by ZTA.
“I am officially now Zimbabwe’s Tourism Ambassador. One love, peace and blessing Zimbabwe. My greatest achievement yet,” wrote Busy Signal on his official facebook page.
Some of the popular tracks that Busy Signal delivered include ‘Come Over’, ‘Sweet Love’, ‘Bedroom Bully’, ‘One More Night’ and ‘Dreams of Brighter Days,’ among many other renditions.
Local artistes who performed at the Harare SAMA festival include Takura, Gary Tight, Kinnah, Killer T, Dadza D and Seh Calaz.