You did well to withdraw from SMF, you spoke for all of us – Macky 2 to Chef 187
Zambian star praises his brother for speaking out, urges festival organizers to prioritize homegrown talent.
You did well to withdraw from SMF, you spoke for all of us – Macky 2 to Chef 187
Zambian rapper Macky 2 has finally spoken out about his younger brother, Chef 187‘s, decision to withdraw from the Stanbic Music Festival.
The festival, which has long served as a vital platform for both local and foreign musicians, recently became embroiled in controversy after Chef 187 expressed concerns about how local acts are treated in comparison to overseas performances.
Macky 2 turned to social media to express his opinions in a post full of praise and criticism.
He began by praising Chef 187 for speaking out for the Zambian music business and shedding light on the injustices that frequently occur behind the scenes.
“Shout out to Chef 187 for speaking truth to power and highlighting the injustices that happen behind the scenes. He really spoke for the whole industry. We appreciate you, sir,” Macky 2 wrote, showing his support for his brother’s bold stance.
His message, however, went beyond simply supporting Chef 187. Macky 2 also addressed the organisers of the Stanbic Music Festival, praising them for their continuous support but encouraging a more fair approach to treating local and international musicians.
“To the Stanbic Music Festival, thank you for your continued support and inclusion of Zambian music. I genuinely appreciate the platform, but I feel there should be a deliberate policy to ensure that even the local acts are treated accordingly.”
Macky 2 expressed his frustration with what he called a “inferiority complex” that he believes continues to undercut Zambian musicians.
He emphasised the importance of increasing capacity in the local music industry through more equal treatment and meaningful relationships between local and international artists.
“In this day and age, we cannot have an ‘inferiority complex’… We need to build capacity with our own people, and that will only happen when more interactions like this continue to happen.”
He ended his message with a heartfelt thank you to the people that came out to support Zambian music, proudly naming them “Muli Ba Last!”
Macky 2’s statement reflects the thoughts of other individuals in the Zambian music business advocating for reform in the ongoing discourse on the treatment of local artists.
The Stanbic Music Festival, recognised for its international roster, now encounters heightened pressure to resolve these issues and guarantee equitable treatment for local artists.
