Limpopo Boy Expresses Frustration After Being Snubbed Out of Mapungubwe Festival
Popular artist Limpopo Boy has voiced his frustration after being excluded from the Mapungubwe Youth & Diva Festival lineup.
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Limpopo Boy Questions Exclusion Despite National and Provincial Representation
Taking to Facebook, Limpopo Boy shared his disappointment, questioning why he had never been booked for the event despite representing both Limpopo and South Africa on a larger stage.
“You know, I don’t like complaining, but even today, I have never been booked at the Mapungubwe ‘Youth’ Festival after I represented my province and the country this far,” he wrote.
Limpopo Artists Movement Takes a Stand
The Limpopo Artists Movement (LAM) has condemned the decision to sideline Limpopo Boy. LAM’s Mphoza Mashabela expressed dissatisfaction with the event organisers and the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, accusing them of unfair treatment.
“We are very disturbed about this. We can’t let the service provider and the department do as they wish. We are the union of Limpopo artists, and we monitor all government events—especially the Mapungubwe Festival, which has been a problem every year,” Mashabela stated.
He added that LAM is actively engaging with the department and has demanded that Limpopo Boy and other young local artists be booked for the festival.
Threats to Boycott the Festival
Mashabela warned that if the event organisers do not cooperate, LAM will boycott the festival until their concerns are addressed.
“We are calling on the Mapungubwe Festival service provider to co-operate, or else we will boycott the festival until they listen to the union,” he added.
Event Organiser Responds
Festival organiser Shane Motala responded to the backlash, explaining that the event already has a packed lineup and that there were many other artists they also wished to include.
“Already, as it is, we have a lot of artists set to perform, and we had artists who we would have loved to be part of the festival,” Motala stated.
With tensions rising, it remains to be seen whether Limpopo Boy and other excluded artists will be added to the festival lineup.