Sol Phenduka on artists’ no-show at December gigs
Media figure Sol Phenduka has ignited discussion online after noting what he sees as a surge of apologies from South African artists during the festive season.
In a post on X, co-host of Podcast and Chill expressed his thoughts on the numerous artists who failed to perform at confirmed events in December, indicating that this season was fraught with disappointments for both fans and event organizers.
“Ya this past December was a statement / apology fest. People missing gigs left right and center. Kuningi,” Sol tweeted.
His comments quickly attracted responses from other industry members, like Cubique DJ, who shared a more comprehensive viewpoint regarding the issues at play.
In an open reply, Cubique DJ highlighted overcommitment as a significant challenge facing the local music industry.
“Overcommitment is a silent killer. Taking more than three or four gigs in a single day, across different provinces, is basically scheduling your own failure,” he stated. “You can’t be everywhere and fully present. Something will crack.”
Cubique DJ further observed that while some artists try to navigate this challenge, it often proves to be unsustainable.
He mentioned veteran DJ Leehleza as a unique case. “I’ve only seen one person beat that system, Leehleza. He overcommitted and still showed up, every time. That’s rare. That’s an outlier. That’s not the rule.”
Overcommitment is a silent killer. Taking more than three or four gigs in a single day, across different provinces, is basically scheduling your own failure. You can’t be everywhere and fully present. Something will crack. I’ve only seen one person beat that system, Leehleza. He… https://t.co/EYgRVxras5
— Cubique DJ (@CubiqueDJ) January 2, 2026
