Jazz festival: ‘Did it fail to deliver?’
The crowds flocked in as expected, but so did a flurry of negative social media posts from disgruntled festival-goers
Ugu Jazz Festival organiser Jabulani Zama has hit back at those who complained about last Saturday’s event, staged at the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre.
The crowds flocked in as expected, but so did a flurry of negative social media posts from disgruntled festival-goers over the weekend, some of whom said the festival was like a church revival meeting as it was held in a tent.
ALSO READ : PICS: Ugu Jazz Festival 2019
Others felt they did not get value for money in the VIP section which had set them back R1 200 per ticket.
Other complaints ranged from having to queue ‘for hours’ at the gate to the tent being overcrowded and artists billed to perform not showing up.
Mr Zama responded by saying there was ‘nothing wrong’ with the festival, adding that he felt the standard of the Ugu festival had exceeded the renowned Cape Town Jazz Festival and many others held around the country.
He also pointed out that the tent had cost him more than R850 000 to set up and accused those who complained of having their own agendas and of ‘not appreciating the finer things in life’.
“All those who are complaining are just haters who don’t like me and Eyadini Events,” he said.
“We made a lot of money, hotels made money and business people who were part of the event made money. They are all happy and they have been thanking me.”
Musician Nduduzo Makhathini expressed his anger over being denied the opportunity to perform.
According to Mr Makhathini, he had been told to prepare to take to the stage at 8pm but when he was ready he was made to wait while other artists were called to perform.
The award-winning artist accused organisers of not respecting jazz music and left without performing, leaving his fans angry and disappointed.
Mr Zama said this was ‘an unfortunate incident’, claiming that they had ‘run out of time’.
Regarding the advertised artists who failed to show up, he said Mlindo the Vocalist claimed to have missed his flight while Zahara had opted to perform overseas.
Mr Zama added that he had learnt a lot from this year’s event, including where to improve as, he said, this year some people had let him down.
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