Langalakhe Mabena
Msiz’ Kay is the talk of town. He is the main man.
After grabbing the most coveted prize of a house stand at the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards (RoilBAA) last year, the muso has begun a campaign to again, be assisted to lay brick on land, so he can build his house.
Not many artistes are so blessed to meet lady luck and have been voted by fans as their best choice of the year. To be given a stand is more of grace that is rarely repeated in a lifetime.
His loyal fans have given him everything he ever dreamt of. They voted him at the RoilBAA and helped him attain the most votes in the People’s Choice Category which made him an eventual winner of the 200 square-metre residential stand.
Given his glory then, when he was awarded the prize, Msiz’Kay pulled an unexpected notch on the rope to success.
He cried out that he could not afford to build his house and would want fans to chip in with the little dime they have.
In fact, he wants fans to assist him, to have a roof over his head. Seldom does this come in one’s days on earth.
His well-planned idea is hinged on the upcoming weekend concert dubbed #IndluKaMrapper Campaign Concert set to be held at The Oasis Creators’ Hub on 9 June, in Bulawayo.
The benefactor to the musician’s house stand, TCI International Private Limited, fulfilled their promise and unveiled to the rapper a stand located at Lot Two in Emganwini.
Wasn’t that enough? Maybe not, given that the rapper now wants the same fans to sort of bring him a “brick and a bag of mortar” each.
The world has usually come to rescue artistes of “old age” who became broke after squandering their resources and money on lavish lifestyles (as witnessed in the lives of many fallen greats).
Here is an able-bodied, talented and academically gifted man who by any means outside the mic can build a house on his own.
Again, maybe not.
In that regard, it boggles the mind why young and energetic artistes who still have more platforms and avenues to make a difference, would move around with begging bowls after getting a stepping stone.
The endless stories of creatives portraying themselves as vulnerable continue to make for sad reading, the latest being that of Msiz’Kay.
Are fans the only lifeline to a musician’s career?
The #Indlu’ KaMrapper Campaign Concert is bound to light up so many raging debates in underground trenches of the music industry.
One time lucky, and now the celebrity wants a second bite of the cherry to the top? In some way that is what others perceive for now.
Msiz’Kay has put his begging antics at another level, as he has set a target to raise US$30 000 or building material worth that much, at least.
A noble and well thought idea.
But, think of this, many creatives have found ways of sustaining themselves through music, staging gigs, music streams on different music stores, as well as collaborating with different corporates, something that has given a lot of artistes, even locals, a chance to make ends meet.
Veteran musician Oskido once revealed on Podcast n Chill by Mac G and Sol Phenduka that nothing comes for free to an artiste, for, he himself, worked hard in building his lavish home and his business empire.
He encouraged young artistes to seek proper employment, “a 9 to 5 job”, or a side hustle so that they can be able to sustain their careers when the wheels come off.
He said that the hustle will give, especially young artistes a chance to reflect on other things in life apart from music alone, as well as giving them an opportunity to invest in other fields to supplement their career.
One feels that the 34-year-old Msiz’ Kay is one young visionary artiste who still has a chance to take a leaf from Oskido and make a difference as opposed to moving around with a “begging bowl”.
Little did you know, the young Zimbabwean muso boasts of sound academic papers.
He enrolled at the Walter Sisulu University (South Africa) where he acquired a BCom degree in Accounting, and partly pursued his post-graduate studies at Fort Hare University.
If he could consider juggling his artistic and academic skills, Msiz’ Kay can arguably establish his own company and handle his personal books, that of fellow artistes and even corporates, who prove to have him at heart as “their” brand ambassador.
But, when the spirit of songs possesses one, however, it does not care whatever academic qualifications are hung on one’s walls.
Actually, he says he is not an office man, he is a muso who sings to change people’s lives, and that’s it.
“As for the fact I do have a degree and I do music which is totally different from what I learnt at school. Of course, I have family and friends that will send me adverts for vacancies trying to steer me in a different direction.
“This is okay because in their own way they are trying to be helpful, but they don’t understand the music business and they don’t see the potential that I can see in it.
“I always face those challenges from people who don’t see the potential that I see in the music business or how gifted I feel I am and how much I believe that I can give to the world.
“If I was to do a different thing, so much would be lost for many people because we are trying to inspire people. I can do that through music and not necessarily sitting in an office somewhere,” said Msiz’ Kay to our sister paper Sunday Life.
For now, let all music lovers, groupies and creatives alike gather at The Oasis Creators’ Hub on 9 June and help Msiz’ Kay build a home.
