Is Afrotainment in trouble?

BIG NUZ and DJ Tira. PICTURE: DOCTOR NGCOBO

BIG NUZ and DJ Tira. PICTURE: DOCTOR NGCOBO

Published Jan 26, 2017

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Kwaito group, Big Nuz, made headlines for all the wrong reasons this week. It would also seem that there has been a scarcity of new music from Afrotainment musicians in the past few years.

 

Big Nuz 🔨 @max_mqadi manje nikuphi 🍾🍾🍾🍾🔨 Thina #SiyanQamuka la 🚀

A photo posted by Mandla Maphumulo (@real_mampintsha_westink) on Feb 28, 2016 at 9:29am PST

The headlines that have surfaced this week have not been good to Kwaito group Big Nuz and most importantly, the record label they are signed to, Afrotainment. Mzi ‘Danger’ Tshomela told newspapers that he does not want to be alone in the group : this came after Mandla ‘Mampintsha’ Maphumulo started his own record label, West Ink Records. West Ink made waves during the festive season, with Babes Wodumo being their major artist. In a similar situation to what has happened to other trios, when one of their members passed away, the group does not sound , nor does it look the same. 

Will the same occur with Big Nuz since the death of Sbu ‘R Mashesha’ Khomos’? Big Nuz were introduced to the public through DJ Tira, the owner of Afrotainment. The group won numerous awards at both the South African Music Awards and the Metro FM Music Awards.

 

Happy Birthday to my ride-or-die, best friend, partner in crime & soul mate #Mr Big Nuz #Denja Gevaar #Mr SiyanQamuka ...I'm on my way back to Dbn jus for u🚨🚨🚨🚨May God bless u everyday 🙏

A photo posted by Mandla Maphumulo (@real_mampintsha_westink) on Feb 20, 2016 at 4:54am PST

Other musicians that are signed to the label have also been somewhat under the radar. Here are some Afrotainment musicians we have not heard of in a while: DJ Fisherman.

The last we heard of him was in the summer with the song ‘Happy song’ and also when he collaborated with NaakMusiq in ‘Call out’.

It's all about house music 🎧🎹🔊

A photo posted by Dj Fisherman (@djfisherman) on Jul 19, 2016 at 2:43am PDT

DJ Cndo The last we heard from her was when she released Finest Lady of House Vol 3, with songs like Amerido, Terminator and Yamnandi. Cndo now promotes and runs her beauty bar, Medusa, located in Durban CBD.

Confidence is Silent, Insecurities are Loud 📣✌🏽#Never forget that ☺

A photo posted by Sindisiwe Zungu (@dj_cndo) on Jan 15, 2017 at 3:25am PST

Joocy Although Joocy released a studio album, Love and Dance in 2016, he has, however, not been the biggest headliner from Afrotainment.

Thath'inhliziyo ❤️ Album is OUT!!zitholele eyakho 🙏🙏

A photo posted by Joocy Mavundla (@joocy_afro) on Nov 7, 2016 at 7:01pm PST

NaakMusiq Anga Makubalo has played in numerous TV soapies while recording with Afrotainment, and has been successful in both scenes. He also released a few songs in 2016 with DJ Tira, titled Dance Till You Drop and Get with Me with Floda.

A photo posted by NaakMusiq (@iamnaakmusiq) on Dec 2, 2016 at 1:46am PST

Another artist that left Afrotainment was DJ Twitty, even before his career peaked. He recently released a song titled Impilo eThekwini and Sabulala uVan Damme remix, also endorsed by his friends DJ Cndo and DJ Fisherman.

A photo posted by #ImpiloEthekwini🔥 (@djtwittysa) on Nov 17, 2016 at 8:00am PST

Are we waiting for the inevitable, for the Big Nuz?

IOL

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