Florence Masebe slams Mzansi's 'obsession' with international artists

Veteran actress Florence Masebe wants South Africa to stop its obsession with bringing international artists to local music festivals and start valuing the talent we have.

Florence, who has never been scared to voice her opinion, took to Twitter on Monday to lambaste the organisers of the upcoming Marula Jazz and Gospel Music Festival for including American R&B singer Syleena Johnson on the bill.

I don't see why  the Marula Festival needs Syleena Johnson or any other overseas act. We need to get over this obsession. https://t.co/qTFR8wUd3F

— Mme a Masakona (@FloMasebe) February 20, 2017

It's so unnecessary. https://t.co/BCYs8uVCC9

— Mme a Masakona (@FloMasebe) February 20, 2017

She went on to suggest that the government may have scored an "own goal" by supporting the festival.

Such an own goal this. All those logos at the bottom but 1 have zero business paying to bring Syleena Johnson to this festival. pic.twitter.com/3EZ3la5VAB

— Mme a Masakona (@FloMasebe) February 20, 2017

I don't even know. I'm just bothered by what is a wholly government supported festival spending to get her here. We need to grow up. https://t.co/NgHIUsLjYO

— Mme a Masakona (@FloMasebe) February 20, 2017

Florence's plea for people to put the focus on local talent and not international acts has been repeated several time by artists in Mzansi.

In 2015, rapper AKA hit back at US musician Ace Hood's headline performance in South Africa by shading him on Twitter and suggesting that Ace should instead be the supporting act for the more popular local musicians.