Fungisai fumes over alleged impersonation of her artistry

Mbulelo Mpofu [email protected]

MUSICIAN Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave has expressed frustration over the alleged reproduction of her music and artistic identity during an EcoBank Legends Night concert in Harare.

Mashavave took to Facebook to question the performance of her song “Tende Kudenga”, alleging that the performers not only reproduced the song without her consent but also copied her movements, clothing, mannerisms and overall artistic presentation.

“Kunyarara hedu kuitira kuchengetedza runyararo & Ubuntu/ hunhu…. Imagine people impersonating you, replicating your music as is and gathering commercial value from your works without your consent? Not even a ‘cover’ but note for note, word for word, every move and artistic mannerism. Ko kutozopfeka, kutamba nekuita everything kunge inini and a whole dignified bank engages them for cheap labour in comparison to mine and in violation of my moral copyright? Ko kuzokuita kunge hausi chinhu when you try to engage them diplomatically? No mhan!,” wrote Fungisai.

She questioned why event organisers allegedly opted to engage performers at a lower fee instead of approaching her directly.

“Tinonyarara nekutya being targeted for victimization but it doesn’t make it right! Why replace me at a nominal fee and create unfair market competition for me uchishandisa personality yangu, music yangu, ma mannerism angu, necreativity yangu and not even bother asking for my permission?” she asked.

Mashavave said the issue went beyond missing out on a performance opportunity, arguing that artistes risk losing control over creative identities and legacies they have spent years building.

“Hazvisi nyore for us especially because we are easily mobbed down and robbed of our right to our own legacies,” she wrote.

Her complaint has sparked discussion around the protection of musicians’ intellectual property and the distinction between legitimately performing another artiste’s music and allegedly replicating their distinctive artistic persona.