By Burnett Munthali
Pemphero Mphande, a well-known social media influencer and close friend of Dr. Namadingo, has taken to his Facebook page to address the ongoing dispute between the popular musician and the organizers of the Umodzi Music Concert, scheduled to take place at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) on 17th November 2024.
The controversy, which has been making waves on social media, revolves around a booking disagreement where Dr. Namadingo initially agreed to perform at the concert for a quoted amount of MK6 million, but later demanded an additional MK4 million, bringing the total to MK10 million, arguing that the event was of a higher caliber than originally discussed.
Mphande shared that two months ago, he had been contacted by the concert organizers, who asked him for Namadingo’s contact details for a possible booking, given his close friendship with the artist. He provided them with the contact of Namadingo’s booking assistant, Mr. Joe Makhuwira, commonly known as Joe BaBa. Shortly after, the organizers received a detailed quotation, and within a week, they confirmed the booking and paid MK6 million for Namadingo’s performance.
However, things took a turn when Namadingo later saw the promotional poster for the event. He informed the organizers that the performance they had paid for did not match the kind of high-profile event they were planning and insisted that such a concert would require a MK10 million performance fee. Namadingo advised the organizers to either take down the poster or top up the additional MK4 million. The organizers refused to add more funds, asserting that they had already paid in full for the agreed services.
On his Facebook page, Dr. Namadingo announced that he would not perform at the concert, which led the organizers to demand a full refund of the MK6 million they had paid. Namadingo, however, responded by offering to refund only MK3 million, arguing that the booking date was now “wasted” as he had turned down other potential bookings for the same date.
In his post, Mphande refrained from taking sides in the dispute, stating, “I will not take sides; neither of Namadingo, nor of the organizers of the Umodzi Music Concert.” However, he expressed his disappointment with how the situation had unfolded. Mphande urged both Namadingo and the organizers to resolve the matter amicably, stressing that the fans who had been looking forward to the event deserved a resolution.
“My advice to Dr. Namadingo, who is a good friend and a brother; Doc, you accepted a booking and got paid for it. Whether the payment doesn’t match the type of performance you would give at such an event, please honor your commitment,” Mphande advised Namadingo in his post.
To the organizers, Mphande acknowledged their right to refuse to top up the additional MK4 million but urged them to find a common ground with Namadingo. He emphasized that the fans wanted to see the issue resolved so they could enjoy the concert as planned.
As of now, both parties remain in disagreement, and the future of Namadingo’s performance at the Umodzi Music Concert hangs in the balance. The situation has sparked widespread debate on social media, with fans and industry insiders weighing in on who is in the right.
Mphande concluded his post by calling for calm and urging both parties to reach an understanding for the sake of the fans and the event. “Guys, what are your thoughts on this issue?” he asked, inviting public discussion on the matter.
With just a few weeks remaining until the event, all eyes are on both Dr. Namadingo and the concert organizers to see how they will resolve this financial and contractual dispute. Fans hope that a compromise can be reached, allowing them to witness the much-anticipated performance.
