This can especially be said for artists whose livelihoods have changed drastically during the pandemic. 

With Covid-19 cases increasing nationally, restrictions still in place, and the continuation of layoffs, the arts and culture industry's artists are in a vulnerable space. 

In an interview with OFM News, Bloemfontein producer and gospel singer, Jerry Melamu, says other than losing family members to the virus, social distancing restrictions has restricted him from having recording artists in his studio and performing live, which were his main forms of income. 

A finalist in M-Net’s hit reality competition The Voice, Sikelelwa Qwazi, or better known by her stage name Siki Jo-An, tells OFM News it is a blessing just for an artist to get a gig and during this time artists are struggling as their livelihoods have been compromised.

Siki Jo-An says after The Voice she went on gigging, making bookings, happily living her best life, but unfortunately, things went sour when Covid hit. “I think it has affected many artists and businesses. It has been really hard and we haven’t had an income for a long time. Some artists are still waiting for gigs, but they keep going,” she says.

Siki Jo-An performed over the past weekend at the Music Extravaganza event in Bloemfontein and calls it a blessing just to get a gig. She says it has become a normality for artists to adapt to doing gigs virtually and perform online. “We had to adapt to that lifestyle, it was not easy and still is not easy,” she adds.

OFM News/Blaine Jones