The Sunday News
Thobekisiwe Gumede Sunday Leisure Reporter
CELEBRATED Bulawayo dance group Siyaya Arts is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary in September this year where a number of activities have been lined up for the event. Firmly rooted in Makokoba, Bulawayo’s oldest township, Siyaya Arts was started in 1989 as NASA (Nostalgic Actors & Singers Alliance). They rechristened themselves Siyaya (On the Move) during their 10th anniversary, a literal description of their journeys all over the world.
The “nostalgia” Siyaya was founded upon refers to the powerful reinterpretation of traditional tales, music and dance, which is often brought to life by relating them to their modern derivatives. The group, on their tour of Europe, gained a good reputation particularly for imaginative manipulation and use of social issues in music.
In an interview with Sunday Leisure, the manager of the group, Saimon Mambazo Phiri, said the celebrations were to mark their 25 years of existence in the arts industry.
“We have grown into becoming big and better people in the arts industry and as a group we feel like it will be of advantage if we grew into an entity. We don’t want to be referred to as a group anymore, we want to venture into more greater things,” said Phiri.
Phiri noted the tragedy that befalls a number of artistes after they leave the showbiz scene and added that such kind of calamities were supposed to be avoided.
“The thorny issue in the arts fraternity remains the poor lifestyle led by most of our artistes despite their huge achievements in the showbiz scene. We want to build a foundation as artistes so that we are not affected tomorrow”, he said.
There are 25 major activities that have been lined up for the event which is going to be completed in six months such as a golf tournament, fund-raising, theatre season where all the old productions will be shown on stage, bus campaign, launching of a CD, release of a print journal, DVD documentary and a world tour, which will mark an end to the 25th anniversary celebrations.
Phiri said they were still sourcing resources for the much awaited event.
“We are half way through in our preparations. We are putting together financial resources to hold the big event. There are many people who are willing to partner with us and we are hoping that by August we would have all our things in place,” he said.
Siyaya continues to cement its place in the world arts circuit although like so many local groups that have had the privilege of touring Europe they have little in terms of material possessions to show for it.
