Dickson Waweru: A majority of Coast-based musicians idle around

What you need to know:

  • Waweru accused them of lazing around and wanting to be spoon-fed by promoters and yet they fully understand the rules of the game where a brand is all an artiste needs in order to sell.

Leading Coast-based promoter Dickson Waweru, CEO of Ring Ring Entertainment, has come out guns blazing hitting at certain Mombasa artistes who claim that he has put more energy into promoting Nairobi-based musicians while neglecting them.

For quite some time now, there has been acrimony, with many Mombasa musicians feeling left out when it comes to getting gigs all over the country, including in their home turf, compared with their fellow Nairobi-based counterparts.

PROMOTERS NOT WANTING TO WORK WITH THEM

Some coast artistes had accused Coast promoters' of refusing to work with them. This has not gone well with Waweru, who for a couple of years now has been promoting Nairobi and Tanzania musicians at the Coast.

Speaking to Nation.co.ke, the promoter hit back at them, saying that though Coast-based musicians have great potential, they never care to build and establish their own brand the way Nairobi and Bongo musicians do.

Waweru accused them of lazing around and wanting to be spoon-fed by promoters and yet they fully understand the rules of the game where a brand is all an artiste needs in order to sell.

“Many have accused me of letting them down and some have even tried to sabotage my planning of events. I wouldn’t want to mention names, but truth be told, the majority of Coast-based musicians idle around.

“They don’t care to build their own brand, you barely here them doing interviews, they never call or bother to contacts the promoters  for the prospect of doing shows, while with the (Nairobi)-based and the Bongo it’s totally the opposite.

“How do you then work with such people who only want to be spoon-fed?” he posed.

NOT HERE TO PLEASE ANYONE

“Trust me, I am a businessman and I am not in the industry to please anyone. They got to pull up their socks and do what is required of them rather than indulging in cheap talk that isn’t leading them anywhere.

“I have worked with several of them and I will not stop promoting any artistes at the Coast as long as they are sticking their heads up,” he added.

Over the Easter holidays, Ring Ring Entertainment hosted Kenyan king of the dancehall Wyre the Love Child at Diani Beach. Wyre gave a terrific performance and the promoter plans to host yet another Nairobi-based artiste during the coming Madaraka day celebrations.