Mshengu fighting music piracy daily

Ntsako Mabunda

LIMPOPO – THERE’S plenty of money to be made in the music industry, however it doesn’t always go to the people it ought to go to. Piracy is a serious problem for many artists, and many of them are forced to retire early or die poor.

These are the words of Nyiko Ronald Chabalala, a popular musician who goes by his stage name, “Mshengu”. Though his songs burn up the airwaves, he is living testament of the negative effects of piracy. He can often be found at a supermarket at Masingita Mall in Giyani working his shift as a security guard.

Mshengu, from Ngove Village outside Giyani, became a musician in 2001 and released his first album in 2006. To date he has released five albums. He admits that though some loyal fans do buy his albums, he really only gets to enjoy profit from his music when he performs at events. “Despite the very real challenge that piracy poses to us, I refuse to give up. I will never stop making music. Making music is my God-given talent, enabling me to delight and educate His people through song. The day you hear that Mshengu has left the music business, you must know that I have left this earth,” Mshengu said.

Inspired by the success of Benny Mayengani, Xitsonga music sensation Mshengu believes that the day when he can earn enough to fully devote all his time to his craft is coming.

According to the Performers Organisation of South Africa (POSA) website, music piracy is the illegal copying, sharing, selling or transmission of music. Pirated music can be transmitted, shared or sold physically or online. Music piracy negatively affect songwriters and recording artists. It stifles careers of new up-and-coming songwriters, artists and bands. Music piracy threatens the livelihood of thousands of people working in the music industry, be they authors/composers, record companies, studio producers, sound engineers, or music retailers.

To protect artists such as Mshengu, organisations such as South African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) has joined forces with the South African Federation Against Copyright Theft (SAFACT) to do more to educate the South African public about the dangers of music piracy and how it affects composers and recording artists. SAMRO has produced booklets to educate different sectors of society and to appeal to the public to fight against music piracy. To download the booklets, visit this link:

www.samro.org.za/SAMRO-anti-piracy-campaign