YOU DON’T VOTE FOR ME, MPANDE TELLS FANS AFTER FIFTH KWACHA AWARDS FLOP

By Scoop Reporter

THE problem you have is that you do not vote for me but still expect me to win awards, Southern Province-based musician Emmanuel Mpande, popularly known as Mpande, has told his fans after losing the Kwacha Awards for the fifth time.

In a heartfelt broadcast via Facebook Live, Mpande said he did not join the media industry to win the awards and that this is the reason he has continued with his music career despite falling short of the top spot in the Kwacha Awards for the fifth time he has been nominated so far and has blamed it on his fans not voting.

He says he has been receiving encouragement from his fans each time he has been nominated but that this is all he gets from them as they do not vote.

“You, the fans, the biggest problem you have is that you do not know how awards are won. This issue is not about how much you know Mpande. It is about how far you can go and support Mpande through a vote. The moment Mpande is nominated, then you come with assurances and tell me that I have already won but it doesn’t work like that. I am addressing you fans who listen to our music.

“Once an artist is nominated, just because of how much you play the songs in your compounds and streets; just because the song is enjoying massive airplay, then you say I have already won. The Kwacha Awards are about voting. If you are really a fan, you will go and vote because you want this artiste to win but you do not vote. The only time you people appear is when the results are announced (takes a long laugh) then you expect your artists to win. For you, you think that as long as the song is playing, then the artist will win… no. Vote, that is the criteria but you do not vote,” Mpande said.

He also took a swipe on fans who are only interested in playing his music for free without thinking of buying to support him, saying musicians invest money into their work and that it is only logical that the fans return the favour for the good music they are enjoying by buying it as this would go a long way in sustaining musicians.

“You play my music but do you buy it? You always want to get it for free but when you see me in rags, you are the same people who will say musicians from Southern Province don’t even know how to dress. One thing you forget is that music is a business and it is a job.

“We invest money for that song to be produced. We pay. So, you have to buy the music for the artist to be able to do something. You love playing and dancing to our music but the moment Mpande mentions that you need to buy, you shun us. You do not want to buy the music. The same way you shun from buying our music is the same way you do not vote for us,” he reminded them.

He has further reminded his fellow musicians who have misgivings about the Kwacha Awards to realise that awards should not define their careers unless they joined music with the sole purpose of winning such.

He said there is nothing sinister about how Kwacha Awards were delivered to the deserving artistes and that those who are claiming that there are things done in the background to disadvantage some musicians are not being truthful.

He said he has been nominated five times but won nothing, yet he never blamed organisers or fellow musicians, adding that the only remedy is to continue working hard instead of blaming others.

“To the musicians who are crying, an award is not the beginning or the end of your career. I have been nominated five times and I have lost all the five times that I have been nominated. I know what I am talking about. Have you ever heard me saying because I have lost, I will stop? No. There is nothing that happens behind our backs and I have never blamed the organisers or artistes.

“I have been in the industry for the past 13 years and I have only been nominated in five years. What about the other years that I have been giving you music? If I focussed my mind on the premise that I wanted to start music so that I could be winning awards, I would have stopped by now because I lost so many times. To the artistes, be strong. You did not get into the industry to win awards,” he advised.

Known for his authentic style and captivating lyrics, Mpande is a trailblazer in Zambian music, proudly representing his roots. He was the first artist from Southern Province to have his music recorded electronically, setting a precedent that inspired many.