Arts Focus: Lets support local arts

Nkululeko Nkala

FOR some this sounds like a broken record but me being me, I will say it againaï¿½ï¿½ we need your support, all of you.

Local art barely gets support, that is why we are still holding on to Lovemore Majaivana in music long after his retirement.

Come to think of it, even during his days there was little support. His unceremonious departure from the arts left us with a guilty feeling. To be frank, itaï¿½ï¿½s not like there is a shortage of musicians in Bulawayo.

What am I getting at?

I can count about 50 local arts that can make most of you proud, to mention a few, there isAï¿½ Jeys Marabini, Nobuntu, Mzoe 7, Luke, Harmonic Rhythms, Sandra Ndebele, Clement Magwaza, The Outfit,Aï¿½ Martin Sibanda, Khuliyo, Asaph, TKP, Kwabatsha, Khuxxman, Black Umfolosi and Calvin.

Thataï¿½ï¿½s not even half the numbers that I know but part of the groups and individuals that can deliver high quality art.

Why are they not replacing Majaivana then?
Many times foreign arts and those from the capital will come to Bulawayo and sell out events.

The most recent example is the 6 000 plus record breaking numbers that attended the Winky D and Jah Prayzer show.

It was a local audience that supported them. The same audience is the first to even boo local arts and scream for their foreign or out of town heroes. The worst part is that these heroes donaï¿½ï¿½t even respect local arts.

An ideal situation will be them collaborating with locals, but at the moment thataï¿½ï¿½s a pipe dream. So what do I mean?

We all start somewhere, look at a few years ago, Jah Prayzah must just have been an idea, Tuku, Sulu, Macheso, Nicholas Zacharia and Zhakata were ruling the roost all because of local support.

Just check out Zim Dancehall aï¿½ï¿½ it has gone viral thanks to the same support that the likes of Macheso got when they started out.

In Bulawayo if you put up a show, you are either met by empty seats or sometimes even cancellations.

Anyway, enough of the complaining. Why did I bring this up?
Next weekend on the 4th of June Hartsfield will play host to a Bulawayo Music Carnival featuring some of the finest DJs and musicians in the city.

I am sure posters and publicity material should be up in everyoneaï¿½ï¿½s face over the next few days. Please come in your numbers and support local talent.

The event will start at 12 mid-day until midnight at a cheap $3. Performing artistes will start selling tickets a week prior to the show.