The Sunday News
Raisedon Baya
The sun has set for 2015, another year gone. 2015 was surely a miracle year. For the religious it was the year of the miracle oil, miracle bangles, miracle money, miracle condoms, miracle prophets and the mirage of prosperity. It was the year of social media and Whatsapp groups where everyone suddenly became creative with the truth. Everyone discovered they have an opinion and became experts in everything.
2015 was also the year of lists; there were too many lists, especially in the entertainment sector. There were top 100 lists, top 50 lists and top 10 lists. Yours truly even appeared in one list. How he got into that list only the list writer can tell. The list yours truly appeared on got so many people talking. Social media was abuzz with the usual one hundred and fifty questions.
However, as predicted by many, the talk and excitement about the list soon fizzled out. The questions disappeared too.
I didn’t write or contribute to any list last year. But I have resolved not to be left out. So here is my own list of the important events that took place in the arts, particularly events that happened in the region and had an effect on the present or future of the sector.
January
Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts (Iyasa)released their hit song Sjaiva Sibancane. It is a public secret that Iyasa is known for its dancing but they released a song that went on to take the region by storm. The song is an anthem at parties, drinking places, school functions and weddings.
February
The National Arts Merit Awards took place in Harare. Bulawayo artistes and arts institutions were nominated and walked home with several gongs. Most notable was the achievement by the cast and crew of UMbiko kaMadlenya. The play, an adaptation by Thabani Hillary Moyo from the Ndebele novel by Mayford Sibanda and directed by Nelson Mapako scooped all theatre awards. This was the first time in the history of the Namas that one production scooped everything on offer in a category.
March
Sandra Ndebele launched her seventh album, Izenzo, at the Large City Hall. This was a glitz and glamour affair. The guest of honour was Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) Sithembiso Nyoni. Guest performers of the night were man of the moment Jah Prayzah and Bulawayo’s own musical giant Jeys Marabini. With this launch Sandra Ndebele raised the bar as far as album launches are concerned. No one in the region has yet surpassed the standard set that night.
The boy from Luveve known as Cal-Vin made waves in the music industry. Cal-Vin collaborated with Casper Nyovest and also got listed among the top Hip Hop artistes in Africa. To cap a fruitful year Cal-Vin got seven nominations at the Zimbabwe Hip Hop awards and grabs three of the awards. Yes, 2015 was surely the year of the Vin!
Amakhosi Cultural Centre got a Commercial Radio Licence which allows them to broadcast on a 40km radius. This licence was one of the eight licences issued out to private players by the Zimbabwean Government. The news was received with a lot of excitement. People who have all along felt their voices and stories are being deliberately sidelined suddenly woke up with hope. After the announcement Cont Mhlanga excitedly declared that “Skyz Metro FM, the biggest show in town, had arrived.” Unfortunately, we closed 2015 with the station still yet to broadcast.
April
Cassper Nyovest felt the real power of social media and the force of local artistes speaking with one voice. His maiden appearance in the City of Kings coincided with the xenophobia madness that was taking place in South Africa. Local artistes used social media to force Cassper Nyovest to speak against xenophobia. To save his performance Cassper not only spoke against xenophobia but ended up donating his performance fees to victims of xenophobia as well. This is probably one moment where local artistes acted in unison and achieved something together.
July
The Zimbabwe Traditional Dancers Association and National Arts Council of Zimbabwe organszed Chibuku Neshamwari Dance Festival finals were brought to Bulawayo for the first time. This was a welcome move as we strongly believe that other provinces and cities should be given opportunities to host national events. Harare’s monopoly on national events has become nauseating.
August
Simon Mambazo Phiri leads a team of Zimbabwean artistes to Italy for the Expo Milan 2015. The group’s presentation was the talk of the Expo.
September
Andrew Langa was fired from his post as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture. The reconfiguration that soon followed saw arts and culture being further buried under Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation National Culture and Heritage.
Andrew Langa’s tenure was an uneventful one. He had failed to use his political influence to awaken the sleeping giant that is the arts. He left as he had come in — with nothing.
Intwasa Arts Festival curated about 50 events in seven different venues around Bulawayo. With quality events and growing audiences the festival continues to cement its status as Zimbabwe’s second largest arts festival.
October
Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa) sadly announces that there will be no Hifa 2016. The announcement was sobering. However, it is the sector’s hope that other festivals, especially those outside Harare, will get access to embassies and some corporate funding that only Hifa has been accessing in the past.
November
Owen Maseko is once again at the centre of controversy when his sexually loaded pieces, ikhothaeyikhothayo, are unceremoniously removed from the Kwacha exhibition for what the gallery director termed “obscene and uncouth” language. This happened a day after the exhibition opened. Maseko is well known for his Gukurahundi exhibition that was banned and spent more than five years locked up at the gallery.
December
Cont Mhlanga and Amakhosi Theatre are recognised for their work by Prince Claus Fund. The legendary Cont Mhlanga travelled to Netherlands to receive the Prince Claus Award. The awards honour outstanding achievements in the field of arts and culture particularly in areas where resources and opportunities are limited.
Amagugu Heritage Centre’s project Strengthening Cultural Policy in Rural Zimbabwe received the UNESCO IFCD grant amounting to $100 000. Amagugu Heritage Centre joined Zimbabwean institutions like Nhimbe Trust, Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust and others who have received the grant before.
Kalawa Homecoming Show brings a stellar line-up that included Mafikizolo, Casper Nyovest, AKA, DJ Tira, DJ Fresh and others. The show was the biggest arts event in Bulawayo with more than 7 000 people in attendance.
We end this article by congratulating Bulawayo girl, Seagirl Novuyo Dube, for winning the 2015 Starbrite Talent Show. Surely Bulawayo has got talent!
