Venda sculptor claims his agent left him high and dry

The internationally acclaimed sculptor and performer, Samson Mudzunga (80), is preparing for a fight with his former lawyer and manager, Mr Allan Jacobs. Mudzunga alleges that the lawyer made large amounts of money from the sales of his artwork while very little ended up in the artist's pocket. Jacobs, however, strongly denies this and described it as sad that someone whom he had tried to assist for many years had now come up with such allegations.

Samson Mudzunga from Dopeni-Shanzha in Nzhelele is best known for his mystic drums and his artwork has travelled the length and breadth of the world. His relationship with Alan Jacobs started in 2002 when the lawyer started representing him. “My name was synonymous  with money and through my performances in many outside countries, Jacobs made millions,” alleged Mudzunga.

“But out of those millions, I did not get anything except for some few thousand (rands) that he paid me for the sale of my drum,” he said and complained that he is now forced to live in poor conditions. He said that he plans to approach the Department of Arts and Culture and ask them to investigate who had gained financially through his performances and the sales of his drums. “I am also briefing lawyers about this case,” he said.

Asked for comment, the very upset Mr Jacobs refused to answer questions verbally, but opted to reply through an email. In the email, Jacobs disputes everything that Mudzunga had said, saying that instead he had assisted Mudzunga from the goodness of his heart. He is now surprised as Mudzunga seems to have turned against him.

Jacobs referred to Mudzunga's utterances as slanderous and unlawful. “I am tired of this man and I will now take steps to defend myself from his continued unlawful, slanderous and defamatory utterances,” he said. Jacobs said that the reality was that he had helped Mudzunga from the goodness of his heart in displaying, exhibiting and selling his art works. “I have never sold a drum to any person and stolen the alleged payment for this drum. The sad reality is that his drums do not sell," he said.

Jacobs invited the newspaper to verify the facts with Michael Stevenson, who likewise assisted Samson out of the goodness of his heart. He apparently also helped Mudzunga and his wife, Dorcas, to travel abroad, so that they could perform and, at the same time, try to sell his art works.

“I also have assisted him for years as his attorney, dealing with various issues and addressing letters on his behalf to various parties, never once asking him for payment for my professional services. The current sadness is that I tried to arrange for him to be a part of the exhibition of Venda artists recently on at WAM. He never replied and he missed a fabulous opportunity to publicize himself,” said Jacobs.

Mudzunga is no newcomer to the world of controversy. Two years ago he raised eyebrows when he threatened to leave Venda and settle in Gauteng, citing jealousy by the local leadership and lack of support by the community as a reason.

Date:21 May 2015

By: Elmon Tshikhudo

Elmon Tshikhudo started off as a photographer. He developed an interest in writing and started submitting articles to local as well as national publications. He became part of the Limpopo Mirror family in 2005 and was a permanent part of the news team until 2019. He currently writes on a freelance basis, covering human rights issues, court news and entertainment.

Read: 1084