One of South Africa’s most sought-after female artists, Kharishma, has registered her name in the bad book of artists who don’t show up for gigs they are booked for.
Kharishma left her legion of fans disappointed when she failed to show up for her performance at the Marula Festival in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, last week.
News of the Ke Ya Tiya Tiya hitmaker’s failure to honour the annual show was revealed by a deep throat who did not approve of the songbird’s alleged lack of professionalism.
The mole, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, said Kharishma, whose other ditty Chokeslem was the second-biggest song after Biri Marung, which ushered South Africans into the year 2025, was paid R50 000 by the event
organiser, who won the contract to organise the carnival.
After paying her, the promoter phoned the queen of lekompo music genre to check if she had received the moolah.
The organiser said she responded positively and said she could not wait to strut her stuff and serenade her fans.
Pamphlets, flyers, and posters were printed and distributed on social media, advertising Kharishma as one of the artists lined up to belt out their songs at the jamboree, where people from all walks of life gather and merrily imbibe marula beer. But lo and behold, Kharishma pulled a fast one on them and her legion of fans.
“I think this is so unprofessional because the service provider spent a lot of money marketing and promoting the show.
“He printed and distributed pamphlets and flyers telling her fans that Kharishma was coming to entertain them there, but dololo, she kept them waiting until they left in the wee hours of the morning,” said the tipster.
The source said what was worrisome was that Kharishma did not even apologise to the service provider or the Limpopo government for failing to appear or even take to social media to apologise to her fans.
“This has the potential to dent the reputation of the promoter because some people will think that he was just lying when he said Kharishma was coming to the venue and wanted to use her name to market the show.”
Limpopo Arts and Culture MEC Jerry Maseko said their department was unable to comment because the festival was the custodian of Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET).
LEDET spokesperson Hitekani Magwedze said they were dismayed with Kharishma’s now show. “We are dismayed at the ‘no show’ of one of our artists. It is our hope that the situation will be resolved swiftly and trust that it will not affect the artist’s rise,” said Magwedze. Kharishma’s manager Malope Malete said the chanteuse did not pitch up because the service provider paid the outstanding balance very late when they had already taken another booking. He said they will refund the
money.
