The Sunday News
Nigel Siziba, Sunday Life Reporter
SIZINDA-BASED arts group Khaya Arts has been in existence for seven years, but in those years, the group has proved it is in the industry to compete.
In an interview with Sunday Life Future Dube who is the founder and director of the group said they were a theatre, music and dance company.
“Basically Khaya Arts is a powerful theatre, music and dance company from Sizinda which was founded by me. I am the director and choreographer of the company,” he said.
He said the group’s mandate is to breathe life into culture.
“This dance group aims at preserving our culture, providing high quality entertainment and giving the talented a platform to pursue their dreams, on the other hand creating employment,” said Dube.
Their high quality dancing has not gone unrecognised as they have won some awards.
“We won best dance group in the National Aids Council (Nac) competition, one of our dancers won Best Female Dancer from Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAAs), we also won the Chibuku provincial competitions and we had a privilege to represent Bulawayo in Mutare where we won Best Dance Group from the Ministry of Youths,” he said.
He said the Chibuku competition was a learning curve.
“At the Chibuku traditional dance competition we learnt a lot, we met a lot of dance groups and saw how they conduct themselves. We met a lot of promoters who loved our craft and that boosted our morale to keep going and inspire other artistes. I think in five years we will own our own festivals, vehicles, apartments and have more groups under our name,” he said.
Even though they have made positive strides, they also encounter some challenges.
“Our biggest challenge is that we do not have sponsorship, there are few promoters and the market is flooded by groups that are not taking arts seriously, thus charging peanuts,” said Dube.
@sizibanigel
