Gospel promoters clash over SA group

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Thursday June 25, 2009 00:00

Joel Manuel  of New Ground, a marketing and promotions company which is bringing Joyous Celebration here on August 8, is furious with  another promoter, Thatayaone Matlapeng, who claims in his banners that  he will have Joyous Celebration performing along side Benjamin Dube at the Blue Tree on Saturday.

The show will  see Dube launching his album here,  titled, High Praise Explosion. Tickets are selling for P150.  Featured artistes  are Sechaba, Patrick Duncan, Uche (from the super group Joyous Celebration), James  Okun, and a local group Hosanna Gospel Ministries.

An angry Manuel has even called Joyous Celebrations' artistes manager here to come and see  for himself  how a local promoter is taking advantage of Joyous Celebration to market his weekend show.

'There is this gospel promoter who writes on banners that Joyous Celebration is coming here on Saturday. It is a misleading advertisement, because they are only bringing two singers who feature in  Joyous Celebration.'

Manuel claims he has been receiving calls from people who are wondering whether his  Joyous Celebration show for August 8, has now been moved forward.

'Joyous Celebration will be coming to Botswana for the first time. We are bringing all of them here, a group of about 60 singers explains Manuel. Our budget is in the region of P1.8 million and the next thing I see another promoter claiming in their banners that they are bringing the same group to Gaborone.'

'It is not a fair  deal at all. When we enquired from Joyous Celebration whether they had signed a contract with another promoter here, they assured us they only have a deal with us, but we are unhappy with what the other promoters are doing, because they are killing our business,' Manuel says.

'Manuel explains that he told the promoter to correct the misinformation. He has only corrected it on radio but we feel it is not enough.  I  was driving around Gaborone, and saw banners around the BBS mall advertising Joyous Celebration for this weekend,' Manuel went on'.

He says they are aiming to have a big crowd of 15,000 people for the August 8 concert, which they have already started marketing. ' The response I get from churches indicate that a 15,000-crowd is a realistic target'. The television adverts started running this week on Botswana Television (Btv).

Meanwhile,  Matlapeng, who is hyping this weekend's show  where  Dube will be the main attraction, says he hopes to attract 7, 000 crowd.  Matlapeng brought Dube here in March this year and says 4000 people attended.

'Looking at the turn up  from  the last concert, as well as the response from  people, we expect 7000 people and have decided to host ti at the Blue Tree.  There will be a big tent, with bonfires to keep everyone warm,' Matlapeng explained.

Asked to explain the confusion,  he is said to be creating, Matlapeng said he talked to Manuel to clear the air. He also says he has been explaining on Radio interviews that Joyous celebration is not coming this weekend. 'We are saying, we are bringing two members of Joyous Celebration. These two artistes, do not have their own albums, they sing in Joyous Celebrations. They will be performing  the songs they sing in Joyous Celebration because that is what they are known for,' Matlapeng said.