The Sunday News
Raisedon Baya
Today I will try to be a little emotional. This is so because the topic for today makes me very emotional. Anyway let me begin by saying the arguments about whether Bulawayo artistes are better than Harare or vice versa does not push the arts industry in the right direction — it is corrosive and destructive.
It is quite sad that whenever Jah Prayzah visits Bulawayo we all get busy on twitter, WhatsApp and Facebook in trying to outdo each other in comparing Jah Prayzah’s success with local artistes. To be honest let me say Jeys Marabini will never be Jah Prayzah, he will never be Oliver Mtukudzi or Alick Macheso. Jeys will never be Sulumani Chimbetu. Jeys Marabini can only be one person. He will always be Jeys Marabini.
Why then do we want him to be someone else? I believe, and honestly so, that Jeys Marabini is successful in his right. He is a good musician. He records and sells music every year. He has his own band and performs regularly. What else do we want from him for us to be content with what he has achieved so far? We need to applaud his success and not compare him to anyone.
Iyasa has done so well for themselves and this country. Every year they go out to tour more than four European countries per tour. They are by far the most successful dance ensemble in this country. We need to recognise their success and celebrate it, not to compare them with Harare artistes. What will they gain from the comparison? I think as a people we need to start recognising that success can come in different ways and different sizes.
Fine, one way to measure success is the size of one’s fan base or following. However, this is not the only way to measure success. I believe the greatest success for any artiste is to be able to live/survive on their art alone. If an artiste manages to pay rent, sends his/her children to school, put food on the table for the family with money from his/her art then that’s a successful artiste. Sustainability is the key. All an artiste needs is to work and get paid and raise or look after his/her family. If he/she makes more than he/she needs that is a bonus.
Why are we so obsessed with comparing the success of local artistes with Harare artistes? How come we never compare Harare doctors with Bulawayo doctors? How much money they make or the cars they drive or the houses they live in? How come we never compare Harare sports personalities with Bulawayo ones, how much they make and what type of cars or houses they live in? The honest truth is these comparisons only alienate artistes. We should be encouraging collaborations with these artistes. After all, they are Zimbabwean artistes. We should wish all to be successful.
The unfortunate thing which happens every time the debate around Harare and Bulawayo artistes happens is that it always turns tribal. This is what makes me emotional. There is no place for tribal sentiments here. So a debate that is based on tribal feelings more than anything should not be tolerated or encouraged in this day and age and in this country.
I conclude by saying all artistes in this country, big or small, are important and deserve our praise and respect. We should see most artistes as Zimbabwean first, other things second. That way we will go far in promoting arts and culture in this country.
