Confusion over South-African based Aemo E’Face performance at E-Wallet
Malawi’s music export to South Africa, R&B singer Amos Mazinyane, aka Aemo E’face, will not be performing at the finale of the E-Wallet talent show as recently reported in the local media.
A month ago, there was an article carried in one of the local dailies that the ‘Midnight train to Jozi’ would be coming home to perform during the final show of Malawi’s version of the Pop Music Idols, scheduled for 31 December at Capital Hotel in Lilongwe.
However, a statement issued by Aemo’s manager, renowned South African actress Rosie Motene, indicates that the Blantyre-bred artist, now based in Johannesburg, will not be appearing at the show after his booking agency, Waka Bookings, and E-Wallet organisers failed to reach an agreement.
“It was brought to my attention that an article was written in Malawi stating he would be performing at the finale on the 31st December! We were not aware of this and no contracts or negotiations had been made,” said Motene in a statement made available to Nyasa Times.
Motene further claimed her agency contacted E-Wallet organisers, in an email addressed to the show’s project cordinator Anthony Kafuwa, “they verified they would like to book him”.
“I send [sic] through his contract and after much time they have replied this evening stating they do not have the budget for his services!
“I’m writing this so to prevent any negative publicity on my clients [sic] part and therefore protect his credibility and professionalism!” Motene said.
But when contacted on Thursday, Kafuwa told Nyasa Times that Motene’s statement was contradicting herself.
Said he: “At no point did we advertise or promote Aemo’s performance at E-wallet. It was actually Aemo who contacted Felix [Njawala, the show’s chairperson] saying he was interested to come perform and the next thing we got a call from a reporter from The Nation [newspaper] wanting to balance [the story] after he had talked to Aemo who apparently had told him that he will perform at E-wallet.”
On the other hand, Kafuwa said they would have liked to have the artist, who is a product of E-Wallet to perform at the finals, but they were charging too much.
Nyasa Times has learnt that Waka Bookings were charging E-Wallet US$10,000 (over K3 million) to have Aemo perform in Malawi, the money which Kafuwa said they would not manage to pay without sponsors.
This year’s E-Wallet winner is expected to get K500,000 and a recording deal from MultiChoice Malawi.
Currently, there are seven contestants remaining in the competition and the next eviction will take place next Monday, to select five finalists to the New Year’s Eve finale.
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