Legal Showdown: Afropiano Fest Clashes Swords with DJ Maphorisa Over Festival Drama
Afropiano Fest organisers have vowed to take legal action against versatile music producer and wheelspinner DJ Maphorisa.
This is after the Abalele hitmaker took to his Instagram page and announced that he will not be preforming at the AfroPiano Festival happening this weekend in Cape Town.
Also Read: Cyan Boujee’s Shocking Confession: Regrets Not Having ‘Tlof Tlof’ with Dj Maphorisa
DJ Maphorisa’s Instagram Announcement Sparks Controversy
The popular artist, also known as Madumane, posted an event flyer on his Instagram page with a red X over it, and made it clear that neither he nor his affiliated artists would be gracing the event.. He accused the festival organizers, who are not South African, of exploiting local artists for financial gain. Maphorisa expressed his frustration, saying,
“I’m not performing will be in Malawi @afropianofest Totally disrespectful especially a promoter coming from outside the country n trying to make money with us ❌ All my artists are not attending this event @niapearlza @tylericu. I hope they paid @focalistic”
Also Read: Innocence Prevails: Award-Winning DJ Maphorisa Exonerated as Assault Allegations Crumble
Afropiano Fest Organizers’ Response to DJ Maphorisa: Payment Proof and Removal from Lineup
The festival organizers were far from pleased with this message and promptly countered Maphorisa’s claims, revealing that they had already paid him a deposit of R30,000 for his scheduled performance on Sunday.
The AfroPiano Festival released an official statement confirming the removal of DJ Maphorisa from their event lineup due to his unprofessional conduct. Their statement reads as follows:
Dear Afropiano lovers
It has come to our attention that one of the acts we booked (DJ Maphorisa) paid and receibed a contract from his management for our closing party at the One Club on Sunday 22nd has decided to deny any knowledge of the booking and has gone on social media to defame our character with a hate speech even though he is fully of the booking and accepted the booking.
We cannot associate with this type of unprofessionalism and have decided to remove him from our lineup with immediate effect.
We will take every necessary legal steps to ensure this unprofessionalism is dealth with.
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History Repeats: DJ Maphorisa’s Previous Contractual Issues
This is not the first time DJ Maphorisa has gotten into hot water for failing to honour contractual obligations. In 2022, after a no-show and swindling Victoria Falls Carnival organisers of US$18K, a High Court of Zimbabwe judge issued a warrant of arrest for Kabza De Small and DJ Maphorisa.
The duo was a no-show for the Victoria Falls Carnival in 2022 after receiving prior compensation. The duo narrowly avoided arrest after depositing R315,000 as security with the Sheriff of the High Court in Zimbabwe.