Arts Views with Thabani H Moyo
The 24th of November 2020 was a historic day for Zimbabwe Music Rights Association when they held their ground breaking ceremony for their Arts hub Complex that is set to be at Emhlangeni in Bulawayo. The complex is set to be built on a vast piece of land that ZIMURA managed to acquire from Bulawayo City Council. The idea of an Arts Hub complex itself is very tantalising, it is exciting. What was even more exciting was what speaker after speaker shared with the audience. Those who were paying attention to what they shared must have left the event wiser than when they came through.
One of the speakers who drove his point home was Jeys Marabini. He hit home ‘One Time’ with his appeal to those that use artists’ works to pay for it because artists also need to live. He lamented the way local radio and television stations continue to play borrowed content from beyond our borders and in the process destroying our culture and history. He spoke like one who has seen it all in the Creative and Cultural Industries. Jeys knows the worth of art and that of an artist. One thing that I liked about him is that he spoke from his heart. What he was talking about is not what he has read from somewhere but what he has lived and continues to live. For Jeys ZIMURA has invested for future generations. When we are ancestors in 3030 ZIMURA Arts Hub will be standing out and telling our stories, said Marabini. What ZIMURA has done is the right thing. It is a good example that needs to be copied by other serious Associations in different sectors of the CCIs in Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Resident Minister Judith Ncube, who graced the occasion as guest of honour, is a fountain of experience and knowledge. She is a mother par excellence to Bulawayo Artists. Sometimes when some of these guests of honour stand up and open their mouths to start speaking most of us start yawning because their speeches will be a big yawn and sometimes a tangent to the event. Their speeches will be like taking sleeping tablets. It was not like that with the Resident Minister for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province. She has arts issues on her fingertips. Her speech centred on the phrase ‘Art, a tool for change’ was well crafted and put across. She was very articulate on issues that she touched on. She knows the power of arts. She has experienced it and hence her encouragement that ZIMURA leadership continues with its good work. For her ZIMURA Arts Hub will bring change to Bulawayo’s arts scene. It will take artists to a different level. She implored artists not to be divisive in their work. There is power in collaboration and unity, she said. Petty jealousies should be a thing of the past. When you lift those around you get lifted as well, she emphasized. She was not far from the truth. She spoke from memory and not from the book. She spoke about her interactions with Ngugi. She spoke about how one year Bambelela Arts Ensemble took audiences on an emotional journey of how street kids lived during one of their outreach programs. She was a befitting guest for such an occasion.
The Director of National Arts Council of Zimbabwe Nicholas Moyo noted that what ZIMURA had started was historic, it is a first in Zimbabwe. No other Arts Association has built an Arts Hub. The Arts Centres we have dotted around the country are either built by individuals or groups. For Moyo the construction of the Arts Complex must not take long. ZIMURA leadership must hit the ground running. It is important for Bulawayo Artists to support the effort and to use it when it is completed. The move by ZIMURA compliments Government’s effort in promoting the CCIs and in making sure that they are part of the Development agenda as pronounced by the National Development Strategy 1 for 2021 -2025.
The Chairperson of ZIMURA Albert Nyathi took time to outline how ZIMURA functions and its mandate as royalty collecting and distributing Association. He also shared how ZIMURA leadership envision the Arts hub. The Complex will have among other structures the Administration block, sound proofed auditorium, Music Library and Museum, Accommodation block for Artists on Residence and a bar. It is ZIMURA’s dream to build a 21st Century structure that will be the pride of the region. The interesting element about the Arts Hub is that it is not only for musicians but will be open to all artists as they will be able to hold their performances there and even work from there. It is this inclusivity in planning that makes the project even more exciting. ZIMURA was grateful to Bulawayo City Council for facilitating that they got the prime land in 2018. They were also thankful to ZB Bank that helped them to secure the land. It is these partnerships that will make our CCIs grow and working in the industry healthy.
Jeys Marabini had the appreciative guests on their feet when he spontaneously performed one of his songs which saw the likes of Sandra Ndebele joining him and giving the atmosphere the much needed celebratory mood for such an event. Their melodious voices must have attracted an uninvited guest to join the gathering. Maybe the guest wanted to see for itself the man who had sung so well. The guest slithered unseen into the middle of a circle that Jeys Marabini, Matesu Dube, Thulani ‘Harsh Touch’ Dube, Future, Robbie and myself had created as we enjoyed our refreshments. Upon seeing the guest in our midst we jumped and took to our heels as we did not what to get that bite. The incident saw even those who were seated far running for dear life even when they did not know what they were running away from. In confusion the uninvited guest managed to quickly take off in full speed disappearing into the nearby grass. The guest left unharmed. Artists are not omatshayinyoka. They are respected business people.
All said and done, what ZIMURA started they will have to finish soon so that artists can have a conducive working space. ZIMURA has wet the artists’ appetite
