The Sunday News
MANY may possibly remember Prince Zulu, warmly known as the disreputable Snake, from one of the first popular local soaps, Amakorokoza.
He was a man who made many crave for the soap that was screened on ZBC with his facial expressions that gave a true reflection of the dreaded and unruly illegal gold panners and their activities.
Snake and Teresia (real name Rachel Banda) made a perfect combination that left many a viewers in stitches and wishing the episode not to end.
Zulu carved a name for himself in showbiz then, but the 40-year-old has travelled a journey with missed fortunes and the usual confusion experienced by artistes in the arts sector in Zimbabwe. The journey, as experienced by many artistes, is one where only “fame” and regular recognition from fans in town can be the only reward one gets without much more to show for it.
Recently, Sunday Leisure caught up with the charismatic character, who is undoubtedly one of Zimbabwe’s leading actors and was the 2008 National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) Outstanding Actor award winner to catch up with what has been going on in his life.
Efforts to reach the famous Amakorokoza actor seemed taxing but Sunday Leisure managed to find the seasoned actor on 1st Avenue where hitch-hikers wait for transport to the capital. Some of Snake’s associates in the arts sector had told this publication that he (Snake) was now a tout at the illegal pick-up point — allegations which Zulu vehemently denied, saying he visits the illegal pick-up point frequently to meet his friends.
Clad in a blue pair of jeans, a navy blue casual shirt and a black pair of shoes, Snake kindly invited Sunday Leisure for a chat just outside a nearby flat, along 2nd Avenue.
Rumours were that Zulu had turned into a drunkard and an irresponsible talented artiste with many of his colleagues in the arts business lamenting his slow demise.
“I have not stopped acting; actually I will never stop because the talent is still there even at 40. I do not see a reason why I should stop and why some people are even saying that I am done is a mystery to me,” he said, using his hands to express his annoyance at the allegations.
Famous for his role in the soap Amakorokoza and also in Izolo Yizolo, Snake revealed that he was still in the arts industry and has a role in the latest local production, The Bicycle Thief. The film is about a young boy who grew up as an orphan but is talented and can dance. During his quest for fame, he manages to steal a bicycle to get to the competitions in which he took part and won. Snake plays the role of a heartless uncle named Zama.
“When I was on Amakorokoza, I also acted in the comedy King’s Kraal written by veteran playwright Christopher Mlalazi and I also featured on the soap Izolo Yizolo. When they stopped being screened on national television I joined Sunduza Boys dance group, an Imbube ensemble based in Old Pumula. So, as you can see, I have not really stopped and this talent that I have is not going anywhere really,” added Zulu.
Asked on what else he has been doing for a living he said he had since engaged in some business although he could not reveal what it was.
“There are things that I’m currently working on and I am a member of Bulawayo group, Go Boyz. We performed during Ibumba Festival last year which somehow came as a surprise to many people. I do have other things that I am doing, really, and they are personal and I am not at liberty to divulge them,” he said.
Zulu, however, lamented lack of recognition, stating that Bulawayo artistes were looked down upon in the country.
“Ama artiste akoBulawayo sithathelwa phansi (no one takes Bulawayo artistes seriously). We are not given due recognition in the city and this is also visible in the music scene where when foreign acts come through they either perform in Harare or artistes from that part of the country are the ones who curtain raise for them and so forth. It’s a really sad reality that we have on the ground. We are not given the opportunity to showcase our talent in the various mediums we have and that is the reason why we will always lag behind,”he lamented.
Zulu said that companies ought to work hand in hand with artistes in making adverts and other promotional material.
“Companies have often sidelined us, you find them doing adverts with people who are hardly known, and that at times jeopardise their brands and belittles our roles in the community as artistes. Do they know that we are the ones who can actually help them as professionals? They should work with us in their marketing campaigns. It will make brands visible,”he said.
