The Sunday News
Kudzai Mpangi, Sunday Life Reporter
SINCE time immemorial, Bulawayo artistes have complained about the way their own people have failed them by withholding their full support.
However, whether or not local artistes have met people’s standards and expectations has remained largely unanswered. Will 2018 be different for local artistes? Will locals support their own in 2018?
These are some of the questions that acclaimed Afro-jazz musician Jeys Marabini has taken to heart ahead of the New Year which are issues that he feels have remained unresolved for many years.
Jeys is one of Bulawayo’s top musicians who have fought for a change in the region’s arts industry and hopes that one day his concerns will be heard by the people. The lack of support from locals has long been a cause for concern for the musician. Jeys wonders where they are going wrong because most local artistes have gained more success and renown outside the region.
“I believe most of the artistes in Bulawayo feel the same way I do because our people do not give us their full support. I think it’s high time they change their ways because we have lots of Bulawayo artistes who have the potential to rise to greater heights but only if people support us all the way,” Marabini said.
“The truth is that in Bulawayo art is not given the respect that it should have as people prefer artistes from out of town while music promoters favour South African artistes like the annual Kalawa Homecoming Show which normally has a massive turnout. Our own artistes have failed to fill up the Large City Hall because of this lack of respect by local audiences,” Marabini said.
Jeys believes Government representatives and companies should push for better venues which will expose the local artistes. He said this will go a long way towards creating an awareness of local talent and hopefully change locals’ perceptions of Bulawayo’s artistes.
“The business community and Government representatives in Bulawayo should start believing in local artistes and give them their full support, especially by giving them the platform to perform at various venues so that they can get the exposure that they have always longed for,” he said.
Marabini applauded the way Skyz Metro FM has given its full support to local artistes and the opportunities that have been afforded to discover hidden talent in the city.
“We have Skyz Metro that is doing a great job in supporting our local content. We have many artistes that have been discovered by the station like Hwabaraty who have done well so far, we need that kind of recognition as artistes in Bulawayo and the station has set by example,” he said.
He hopes that this year will be year of a turnaround in the arts industry and their hard work will live to be remembered.
“We need the next generation to have better opportunities. Bulawayo’s very own musical legend Lovemore Majaivana paved the way for us and we need to do the same for the next generation in the arts industry to say they fought for what we enjoy today,” he said.
“In my 28 years in the music industry it has been hard that’s why when I speak I speak with passion because I know it’s not easy for a musician to survive without support from their own people. They say charity begins at home, lets lead by example Bulawayo people and take our city to better places,” Marabini said. -@kayskudzai
