The Sunday News
Arts Focus, Raisedon Baya
SO the famous Bev Sibanda is pregnant and it is serious news in both social and mainstream media.
In an article carried by H-Metro this past week the self-proclaimed queen of pole dancing, claims to be expecting Andy Muridzo’s child.
I know many readers of this column and this paper may know who Bev Sibanda is. They may also know what she is famous for. However, I doubt very much if many have an idea who Andy is or what he does for a living. Most of you reading this article are probably asking who the sugar is Andy Muridzo?
Well, Andy is an artiste but certainly not just another artiste — many people; especially those that have seen him perform and heard his music say he could be the next best thing in music after Jah Prayzah. I know a lot of other people who will vigorously dispute this prognosis of the young man’s career.
True or false, there are people who believe Andy is the heir apparent to the music throne in this country. Some actually strongly believe that he is or was the most direct threat to Jah Prayzah’s rule before Military Touch Records signed him up recently. Andy and Jah Prayzah’s music and even their performance style is the same. So why is it a story that Bev, who is obviously above the age of consent, is expecting Andy Muridzo’s child? Why is Bev’s pregnancy a better story than Hwabaratty having a beautiful and mouth-watering album launch at the gallery?
Well, one simple answer is that Andy Muridzo is a married man and therefore for Bev to have a child with a married man is a big scandal. (Zimbabweans are a very moral people.) And don’t we love scandals in this country? And we have had quite a dosage of these recently. Jah Prayzah versus Gonyeti. The big Olinda versus Stunner moment. Then we had the near meltdown of Cal_Vin where he said some pretty stuff to God on twitter. And now we have the mother of all scandals. Beverly Sibanda is pregnant! And no, it’s not a publicist stunt to sell an upcoming album (We’re all hoping it’s not a stunt)
To be honest I was really disappointed, not by the story or the scandal, if you want to call it that. I was disappointed by people’s reaction to the news. Here was a scandal, involving two people and yet in most discussions, public or private, everyone seemed to blame Bev. Bev was portrayed as a loose woman, a home-wrecker, a husband snatcher, while Andy got very soft blows. In some platforms he was even painted a victim.
There was a moment, and it passed quickly, when I expected female artistes, female journalists, women’s movements and other more objective beings to rally behind Bev. At least try and fight in her corner. But no. Not this time. Not with Bev. She was the wild one. The bad woman who was trying to destroy Andy’s home. To me this was another case of labelling. In many people’s eyes women artistes are bad news. They are labelled and stigmatised. Most are seen as immoral, scandalous and home-wreckers. There are other worse words that have been thrown at them. Words, heavier than bricks and more dangerous. Words meant to demean, degrade and even destroy them.
My question is that since it takes two to tango why Bev was attacked from all corners and Andy treated with soft gloves by both the public and the media? Food for thought.
Away from the scandals the Nama nominees were released on Thursday. Bulawayo has about 21 nominations. This is a good number and hopefully more than half will walk away with the actual awards come next week. However, for now, let me take this opportunity to congratulate all nominees and say the nomination itself is a big achievement. Congratulations!
