The Sunday News
Raisedon Baya
THERE is a sad saying that goes something like “what’s not written down may never have existed.” The belief behind the saying is that if something is not there and there is no evidence it once existed then surely it never existed. Well, the saying may be very true in the arts sector. There are a lot of things, events, milestones, discoveries, that took place in and around Bulawayo in the sector that one would actually be forgiven to think they never happened or existed. We are all blank about it.
It is true that often times, history is distorted by omission — deliberate or otherwise. A good example is the political history of this country. Anyway, there is a lot of history in the sector that is missing. There are also a lot of distortions and blank slates that need to be properly filled in. For the literate and bookish the reality on the ground is that a lot of research, writing and documentation tends to concentrate more on one or two individuals, one or two institutions. Other efforts and important footprints are totally ignored, like they never happened or are completely irrelevant. I had a talk recently with a friend who lectures at one of the local universities about the need to encourage students to do a lot of their research projects and dissertations on diverse subjects so as to properly reflect on the realities of the sector.
For example what paper, academic or otherwise, has been written about Mthandazo Ndema Ngwenya and his pioneering work? Who talks or has written about the contribution the likes of Mthwakazi Arts Writers’ Association, (Mawa) or Iluba Elimnyama? Who talks of Salukazi Arts Centre and the artistes and art works that have been produced there? Who has done an extensive research about Umkhathi Theatre or Bambelela Theatre ensemble and their decades of activity and productivity? When will a proper book about Lovemore Majaivana be written? Who has researched and written about Cool Crooners or Black Umfolosi? Another friend, also interested in documentation and preservation, has been asking why there is nothing written about the likes of Madlezibabayo and Kembo. These are some of the pioneer comedians that created the first stand-up comedy skits in the region yet nothing has been said or written about them. They are obviously victims of omission perhaps, and by the same brush they have been completely erased from history. I could go on and give you a long list of old timers whose creative footsteps were erased or completely ignored by those privileged enough to have been documenting history.
I believe it is the duty of our local universities and the young academics to start digging and looking for nuggets of history, tracing critical footsteps that paved a way for what we now call the arts sector. There must be a deliberate and concerted effort to research and document arts and culture activities that used to happen at Renkini bus terminus a long time ago, the cultural activities that used to happen in beer halls, and other places. There were also critical activities in youth clubs. I am yet to come across something written down about the success of the youth club programmes that produced a lot of people who then went on to conquer the world as artistes. We honestly need that history told and documented. The early first steps in the sector must find themselves on book pages, on the internet, and on video so that those who decide to follow in some of the footsteps know exactly where the footsteps started and led to.
Perhaps the challenge we should give our researchers, academics and writers is to not short-change the sector by writing about the same person or institution or subject all the time. The sector is a big one and very diverse. Can that diversity and its richness be documented for future purposes?
As a sector we have always said Bulawayo has a rich history. It high time we see this richness put down on paper or documented somewhere and somehow.
On a different note the RoilBAAs are on Saturday and arts focus wishes every nominee the best. To the general public this is an event to support. Buy your ticket and dress up and go and have fun.
