Don B quits Tshanda's Dalom stable

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Wednesday August 25, 2010 00:00

 

Don B joined Tshanda's stable in 2004.  The stable includes other popular South African groups like Splash and Dalom Kids.  Every year the stable has been staging successful festivals with Don B as one of the star performers.

However, Don B revealed in Gaborone over the weekend that he has decided to quit the stable although he is still open to offers. Don B said he did not sign a fresh contract with the Dalom stable because he and Tshanda would not agree on various terms.   The musician said the remuneration was his major concern. 

'I was not happy with payments, especially for festivals,' he said.  He added that he was also not paid for royalties that were received from the South African Royalties Collecting Society (SARCS). 

'If they meet my requirements, I can team up with them again,' said the visually impaired artist.  Don B said it seemed that Tshanda did not understand the fact that he was a married man with family responsibilities.  He said the money that he was receiving from the Dalom stable could not sustain him as a professional artist. 

'I want to lead a good life.  I am not saying that Tshanda is a tsotsi.   All I am saying is that I was not happy with the amount that he was paying me,' he clarified.    'Even though my music was selling I was not paid,' he said.  He said for that matter, Dalom Kids did not back him when he was recording.  He said as a result he had to do the vocals for himself.  The band only joined him on the stage when he was doing live shows. 

Don B released two albums under the Dalom stable.  The first was Babe Girl in 2004 and the second in 2008 called Banna We. 

Don B's other concern was that it was taking a long time to record under the stable.   Don B has released a DVD titled, The Best Of Don B.  He revealed that he produced it outside Dalom jurisdiction because the 'stable does not do DVD shootings'. 

 But there is no love lost between Don B and Tshanda.  Don B said their difference is only over finance, adding that he has learnt much from the professional South African set.  He reiterated that if Tshanda gave him a better deal he would not hesitate to work with them again.  ' I am still open to any offers,' he said.  

Meanwhile, Don B, who has also produced a local group, Julugo, says he is willing to work with other interested locals.  'I am a producer and artist; I am willing to work with other local artists,' he said.

Although his family is based in Francistown, Don B said he would be spending most of his time in Gaborone.  He would also be travelling to Johannesburg regularly on music business. 

When Don B joined the Dalom stable in 2004, he was already an established local artist.  He was renowned for his popular albums like Don't go baby, and Sponono, which featured the hit track Banyana Ba Serowe.  Another hit track is The Zebras, which is dedicated to the senior national football team.

Don B does not have any doubts that he can still make it as a solo artist locally.  'Batswana still love my music and I would like to thank them for their support,' he said. Don B is not the first artist to 'bolt' from the Dalom stable, as many others had left protesting over poor pay. 

When he was contacted, Tshanda said it was news to him to hear that Don-B was not happy with the money that he was paying him.  He recalled that in previous interviews, Don-B had indicated that he was happy with the manner in which the stable was paying him.  'I think he just wants to tarnish my name,' he said.

Tshanda said he was the one who decided not to renew Don-B's contract.  He said he wanted Don-B to be on his own so that he can grow as an artist.

 'I wanted him to do things for himself.  I didn't want to keep him forever,' he said. Tshanda said he has been paying Don-B as according to the agreement that they entered into.  He said when there were festivals, he could call the artists before the shows to tell them how they were going to be paid.

As for the royalties from the South African Collecting Society, he said Botswana artists do not receive the money.  Only South African artists are paid the royalties. Tshanda said he has been trying to devise a way of how they could collect the money for Don-B because he did not have a South African identity card.

Tshanda reiterated that he has been doing things in the open and does not cheat artists.  He said some of the artists who left his stable have come back.  Don B is not the first artist to jump from the Dalom stable, citing a pay dispute.  In the past, other popular artists had left the stable protesting that they were underpaid.