The Sunday News
Raisedon Baya
ON 2 November, and less than a month after his mandate was extended to include arts and culture, Honourable Makhosini Hlongwane met artistes in Bulawayo and this happened a day after meeting Harare artistes.
The Bulawayo meeting, just as the Harare one, was well attended — young and old artistes, representing almost all the genres packed the National Art Gallery where the meeting took place. Most were eager to hear what the minister had in store for the sector, but the meeting was more about the meeting finding out more about the sector. However, the conversation was lively, mature and very positive.
In a meeting that started in the morning and lasted till lunchtime, 10 presentations from the different sectors — literary arts, theatre, film, fashion, dance, music, visual arts, arts and crafts and festivals — were made to the minister.
Unlike previous conversations with previous ministers that were characterised by drama and anger this particular interface was mature and very positive.
I believe this had to do with the swiftness with which Honourable Makhosini came down to meet his constituency and also the fact that he himself instils a lot of confidence when he stands up to talk.
He is articulate and doesn’t need words shoved into his mouth. The minister knows what to say and I personally believe he will represent the sector anywhere without any problems.
The issues put forward by sector representatives were cross-cutting, affecting each sector almost in a similar manner.
The critical issues were lack of training, co-ordination, funding and support structures. In simple terms most sectors feel the current environment is not conducive enough for the proper development of arts and culture in the country.
The general feeling was that certain things need to happen before any meaningful progress can take place in the arts.
Here are some of the recommendations made by the sector to the minister:
The need to set up an Arts, Crafts and Culture Agency that could work hand in glove with the likes of ZTA and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expand markets access and linkages.
A need to set up a national arts fund to avoid the national capture of arts by foreign funders.
The need to re-visit the whole arts and culture training approach, move more towards formal training and certification.
The need to create a one-stop shop for the clearing of foreign artistes as the current setup is cumbersome and very expensive.
The need for the ministry to help prop up the book industry, financially and otherwise.
The need for the NACZ Board to appoint persons with the requisite skills to articulate sector views and development aspirations.
The need for the ministry to immediately initiate capacity building and training programmes for grassroots artistes.
The need for crafting a five-year sector development strategy.
Responding to the issues raised the minister was very positive. He indicated that he will conduct further investigations before laying out his strategy for the sector.
The minister also took the occasion to announce that the National Cultural Policy document that the sector has all been waiting for will be launched on 29 November here in Bulawayo — some good news indeed as we all hope the national cultural policy will show the sector and its players direction in terms of national priorities.
On another note and away in South Africa it seems the doors are finally opening for Bothwell Nkomo alias Bekezela with his Bekezela album. The young man has travelled a long road and has been very patient. His time has come and we wish him all the success he deserves with his music.
