Lady Smith Black Mambazo leads the way at launch of organization 'Backing The Back Up Artists Organization'
It is no secret that the pandemic has taken a massive toll on people around the world, whether it be emotionally, physically, socially, or financially.
Many businesses have had to shut their doors due to the lockdown and thousands of South Africans have been retrenched as well.
READ: Small businesses struggle to gain from the private sector
One of the many sectors that has also taken a huge hit due to lockdown regulations has been the arts and entertainment industry. In September last year, disgruntled Durban artists blocked off the N3 Highway near the Spaghetti Junction, demanding that lockdown regulations around concerts be amended.
READ: Dj Tira, Zakwe and more Durban artists shut N3 in #VulaPresident protest
In September, the country was under Level 2 lockdown, theatres, concerts, and live performances were subject to a limitation of 50 people or less. Scores of entertainers blocked both north and south bound lanes and staged a picket.
Earlier on Thursday, the Backing The Back Up Artists Organisation was launched at Stable Theatre.
East Coast Radio Traffic reporter, actress, and playwrite Jayshree Parasuramen was in attendance to lend her support and cover the event.
Sandy B asked me to please come join them as even I was doing food hampers on my own for Artists since Covid started .... Artists should be treated with dignity. This is not handouts. If it were not for the pandemic.... Artists would find their hustle and be able to put food on the table... Today we can't even hustle in this pandemic
The organisation aims to help the artists who work in the background and who are often overlooked.
READ: eThekwini lashes out at artists for protesting on Durban N3 highway
Durban producer and giant in the Kwaito scene, Sandy B, elaborated a little bit more on the work that the organisation is looking to do in the podcast below:
Sandy shares that in the entertainment and music industry, there are artists who are often known as the 'stars' on the frontline that get all the glory. However, those artists are made to be whom they are by their support system.
This includes their band, whether it be their drummers, piano players, backing vocalists, or musicians.
He believes that these individuals are the ones that need the most support during these difficult times. During the launch of Backing The Back Up Artists Organisation, food and care packages were handed out to Durban artists.
The Grammy Award-winning Lady Smith Black Mambazo were one of the headline artists to perform at the launch of the organisation, giving a stellar performance, watch a short snippet below:
For more information on this organization- you can contact Sandy B on 082 8484320.
Main image from Lady Smith Black Mambazo Instagram page