The Sunday News
Ntombiyolwandle Ndlovu, Sunday Leisure Reporter
INKULULEKO Yabatsha School of Arts (Iyasa) is set to embark on a massive talent search initiative in Bulawayo.
The talent search initiative is in line with the arts academy’s preparations for the Isiphiwo Sami annual talent search competition to be held this year.
The three-month long programme will run under the theme Age of Consent — A Virtual Vice.
Iyasa director Nkululeko Dube said that they will be searching for talent under various categories ranging from dancing, poetry, theatre, music and drama.
“We are going to work closely with drama clubs, music clubs and many other groups that are in schools to conduct our programme,” said Dube.
He said they had already engaged skilled arts personnel to conduct workshops before the finale in March.
“Before the competition we will conduct workshops at Amakhosi to make sure that the pupils master the basic and other necessary skills for the competition. We are bringing in practitioners who are specialists in the arts industry to train the students in these workshops,” said Dube.
Dube expressed hope that the competition would grow even bigger in the future.
“We look forward to advancing our competition, not only in numbers but we also want to produce quality productions and artistes that are going to make an impact in the art industry even after school days,” he said.
The talent search competition was established in 2009 by Iyasa in conjunction with Culture Fund.
Winners of the competition are then taken on a mentorship programme and are given the platform to showcase their talent by Iyasa.
Mpopoma High School emerged tops in the competition followed by Gifford and Msitheli high schools.
