After a prolonged dispute, prominent Amapiano artists Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, and ShaSha have resolved their differences with the organizers of the Vic Falls Carnival. This follows a legal demand issued in 2022 after the artists failed to appear at the highly anticipated music festival, leaving their fans disappointed.
In 2022, Zimbabwean event promoters issued a demand letter to Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, and ShaSha for their non-appearance at the Vic Falls Carnival, seeking R500,000 in compensation. According to the promoters, the artists had been fully paid and all logistical arrangements were in place, but they did not show up to perform, resulting in significant losses.
Details of the Financial Agreement and Failed Appearance
The artists were reportedly paid an appearance fee of R250,000 to perform at the event. In addition to the performance fees, the promoters incurred expenses covering travel, accommodation, and tax costs, which were fully organized and paid in advance. Despite these arrangements, Kabza De Small, DJ Maphorisa, and ShaSha did not attend the event, offering no prior explanation for their absence.
Breakdown of Financial Losses
Promoter Bongani Ngwenya, represented by attorney Rudolph Baloyi of RB Inc, claimed that his company, Bandwagon, faced losses totaling more than R414,000 due to the artists’ absence. This amount included:
- R250,000 in performance fees, including a R20,000 agent fee
- R91,000 for round-trip flights
- R22,500 for immigration permits for the artists
- R15,000 in Zimbabwean income tax
- R9,000 for Consensus Board approval
- R11,250 for accommodation for Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa
- R14,400 for ShaSha and her crew’s lodging
These expenses amounted to a total of R414,147, which the promoters sought to recover.
Initial Agreement to Refund the Promoters
According to the promoters, the artists had agreed to refund the payment prior to the event, once they realized they would be unable to perform. It was reported that Thuli Keupilwa, representing the artists through Lawk Communication, assured Ngwenya’s colleague, Stan Chingozho, that a refund would be issued. She explained that the delay in processing the refund was due to her being out of the country.
Negotiations for a Partial Refund
In response to the legal demand, Lawk Communication stated that the artists were willing to refund only R230,000, which sparked further negotiations. The promoters, however, were firm in their pursuit of the full reimbursement of R414,147, including legal fees.
Amicable Settlement Reached
Recently, an official statement from Vic Falls Festival confirmed that the parties involved reached an amicable settlement. All sides expressed relief at concluding the matter and shared appreciation for the mutual cooperation exhibited during the resolution process.
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Official Statement from the Vic Falls Festival
The Vic Falls Festival released a statement expressing gratitude toward all involved, including the artists’ representatives and supporting partners:
“We are thrilled to put this matter behind us and look forward to the future. The professionalism and dedication from Lawk Communication and the artists have been invaluable throughout this process. We also extend our gratitude to international events curator Bongani Ngwenya for his strategic guidance, as well as Mashwede Holdings for their support in bringing us together and making this possible.”