Lloyd Mbiba • 13 November 2014 2:32PM • 10 comments
HARARE - Pressure is mounting for Zimdancehall artistes to put their house in order following violent clashes which left nine people seriously injured at the weekend during the Sting Dancehall Clash competition.
Police had to use teargas to break the rioting which characterised the over-hyped clash between Soul Jah Love and Seh Calaz at the City Sports Centre.
No one was killed according to the police although death rumours still persist but from unofficial sources.
Paul Nyathi, the police spokesperson, admitted the concert was tense but said the police helped put things under control.
“The police would like to state that no person died during the dancehall show held at Harare City Sports Centre,” Nyathi said of the concert that attracted a bumper crowd last weekend.
“We are currently investigating who threw a canister from bay three. We urge musicians to be mature and not to resort to violence when they are booed,” he said.
One of Zimdancehall’s most popular performers, Soul Jah Love, who warned in lyrics ahead of the concert that “Chibaba chakadya nduru,” uses hyper-violent lyrics that chronicle the exploits of ‘badmanism’.
Some of the music has been labelled misogynistic and degrading to women who are usually addressed in disparaging terms.
On Saturday, the bumper crowd that thronged the Partson “Chipaz” Chimbodza-organised event tarnished the music fiesta when Soul Jah Love and Seh Calaz took to the stage.
Hooligans threw cans onto the stage sparking a brawl between the two dancehall artistes whose shameless conduct ignited the terraces as pandemonium ensued.
Police used teargas to try and quell the riots which broke out soon after the Sting had been abruptly halted.
Police had a torrid time controlling the crowd as the singers’ fans who had packed the arena to the rafters refused to accept “burial” as it is called in Zimdancehall lingo.
Meanwhile, Seh Calaz blamed Soul Jah Love for the violence that rocked the Sting Dancehall Clash.
The Mbare-based artiste told the Daily News that his rival refused to temporarily leave the stage to allow the tempers in the crowd to cool down.
“When fans started throwing cans towards me and Soul Jah Love, the stage manager told us to leave the stage until violence in the crowd had stopped,” said Seh Calaz.
“I complied with the order from the stage manager and advanced to the near rear exit were Soul Jah Love was but his bouncers attacked me. Unfortunately, Soul Jah Love did not follow instructions from the stage manager.
“After the stage manager told us to leave the stage, Soul Jah Love did not do so. My fans ended up protesting because they did not understand why I was the only one being taken away and to make matters worse, his bouncers were clearly attacking me,” he said.
“Maybe the stage manager did not communicate properly with Soul Jah Love’s bouncers.
“They attacked me yet my intention was to temporarily leave the stage and come back later to thrill my fans as I was just getting warmed up. The bouncers made it appear as if I wanted to attack Soul Jah Love which was far from the case.”
Seh Calaz defended show promoter Chimbodza’s conduct.
“The promoter set out the rules which clearly stated that violence was unacceptable and we both agreed to respect the rules despite my personal differences with Soul Jah Love. Contrary to the rules, Soul Jah Love brought some dancers onto the stage while I had none,” he added.