This year's Hollywoodbets Durban July was one for the books. Social butterflies seem to still be recovering from the weekend's festivities. Many artists left counting zeros in their bank accounts from being fully booked. Despite its success, the event has also left a bitter taste in the mouths of some KwaZulu-Natal artists who felt side-lined and excluded by the various organisers.

ARTISTS PLIGHT

While many note that DJ Maphorisa was booked 18 times at the Durban July, other artists could barely count their bookings with one hand. L'vovo told ZiMoja that he and many other Durban artists were not booked to perform at this year's prestigious horse racing event, and the focus was all on Joburg artists. "We are not jealous; we love Amapiano, but this year's event was all about Amapiano and Joburg artists,' he said. "How does such a big event not book its own people and help to build the province's economy? This year was very disappointing, and we are just feeling left out,' he added. Big Nuz member, and now DJ Mzi 'Danger' Tshomela, said he was not booked to perform or to play at the event. "We helped build the music industry in KZN, but we are being sidelined,' he said. 

YOUR TURN

Veteran artist Thokozani 'Tizozo' Zulu said that most artists were booked, not back-to-back as they would have expected. "Everyone gets their chance to shine," he said. "There was a time when Soweto artists were thriving; the Tizozo and Professor had their turn around 2004, and then there was the era of Robbie Malinga with pop and afro-pop. Then came the era of Gqom music, now it is time for Amapiano,' he said. "Artists should not complain; no one was complaining when they had their time to shine. Allow other artists to enjoy the spotlight; it's a wave. It comes and goes, and after this, someone else will shine. People should not be envious of anything; that is the nature of the game,' said Tizozo.