DYING ARTISTES There could be blood on Dr Kereng Masupu’s hands – music promoter
It is getting uglier for local musicians and promoters who have been down and out since March this year.
The Arts and Creative industry was shut down by government back in March in an effort to minimise mass gatherings, and nine months later, the industry is yet to open.
This has since left artists and music promoters frustrated, resulting in even those assumed to be well established like Odirile Vee Sento, Franco and Atlasaone ATI Molemogi amongst others, to come out and publicly air their frustrations through a protest gathering in Old Naledi.
This week is no different. In fact one promoter in Godwin Sebina has allegedly left a message for President Mokgweetsi Masisi saying he intends to commit suicide this Thursday. The message states that he (Sebina) is depressed and having been out of business for close to ten months, he could not take it anymore.
On the other hand, Molemogi, who is known by stage name ATI also set out to disrupt parliamentary proceedings in a quest for answers but ended up being arrested. Unconfirmed reports say he had also been taken to Sbrana Psychiatric Hospital in Lobatse for psychiatric evaluation.
Appearing on a live Facebook video and seemingly on the back of a van and handcuffed, ATI said the war was only beginning.
At a different location, a concerned Vee shared a video of himself visibly disturbed by the happenings. He begged authorities to end all this by making a “decision.”
“No please let ATI go, please do not do this, let him go, people are depressed,” he said.
Renowned music promoter Seabelo Modibe also shared this morning that they have done all they could to engage the relevant authorities but the country leadership has not listened.
He said they are not calling for the entertainment industry to be recklessly opened but wish to know if there are any plans meant to cater for starving artistes.
“ (Dr Kereng) Masupu, if anyone commits suicide, blood will be in your hands,” he said.
Local AfroJazz queen Punah Gabasiane added that there was need for those in the music industry to keep checking on each other as many are hardly coping.
