Someone Help Alpha Climb Up His Baby Cot
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Early this morning I saw a tweet rebuking the attacks that were apparently being directed at Alpha Rwirangira, the winner of one of the past TPF (Tusker Project Fame) events. I followed the link to his Facebook account where he has posted a five course rant directed at EABL. In it, he accuses EABL of not supporting artists from TPF after the show and further tells them, "don't leave them hanging like lost sheep." Among other things he cites failure by EABL not to support an event he had and goes ahead to term it shameful as other corporates sponsored it. He justifies his rant by saying "people vote for their favorite artist and they want to see him grow" and of course failure by EABL to support him is among his reasons among a lot of other things. If you havent read the rant, you can do so on this link... Oh, and ignore his grammar if you want to get to the end.
I have always held the opinion that there are people who should be supported and others who should simply introduce their upper lip to their lower lip and teach them how to hug very tightly everytime they feel even the slightest urge to ask for support.
First, let me state that I fully understand where he is coming from. I just have no freaking idea where in blue freaking hell he is going. I understand his frustrations with EABL about not doing enough to ensure their "projects" dont get wasted. That has everything to do with his expectations and nothing to do with EABL. May be EABL needed to sit down with him and explain to him NOT to expect any support from them so that he does NOT use that as an excuse of getting wasted. However, if you get overnight fame across the region and five million shillings in the bag, the only chance you have at getting wasted is if you waste yourself.
So Alpha, you may point to recording deals and not getting sponsored for your event and all that hogwash but, if you really are a musician worth your salt, how hard would it be - with a TPF win and FIVE MILLION shillings in the bag - to make a song that would literally rock the region? How hard can it be to simply ride that wave and wow listeners all over East Africa because they voted for you with belief that you have that talent? How much talent have you given back in the form of good music?
Honestly, I have heard none.
And that call for support from EABL ... how is that supposed to work out? Do you expect the Board of EABL to show up in skinny jeans and mohawks with "We Support Alpha" Tshirts? EABL did their part. They gave you training, exposure, fame and money. If you cockblock yourself after that, that is YOUR problem. How many new musicians have come up with regional hits AFTER you won? How many other musicians have produced hit after hit AFTER you won? How many have made fortunes with their talent since you won? Now, let me ask again. How many hits have you given the region since you won?
Oh, and you are also mad that they did not sponsor your event? Well well well. Allow me to ask you to kindly stick a lollipop in your mouth and sit at the corner with other three year olds. They are NOT expected to. Wake up and smell the coffee. It is entirely their prerogative. Whining about it just makes it a lot worse. Their annual budget does not have Alpha's Events as an entry on their expenditure cast in stone.
What I honestly think is about is that you are now broke and are looking for people to blame. What you need to do is get rid of that pacifier in your mouth. The music might be getting drowned in your drool.
Over and out.
