adminSimbarashe Mutizwa Showbiz Reporter
Artistes in Bulawayo have described the death of award-winning traditional dancer Pathisa Nyoni as a blow to the arts industry saying she has left a void that can never be filled.The 61-year-old dancer collapsed on Sunday afternoon during a performance with her group, Iluba Lemvelo at a beer garden in Nkulumane. She was admitted at Mpilo Central hospital and died on Monday morning.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe Bulawayo provincial arts manager Charity Nyathi said the local arts industry had suffered a setback through the loss of Nyoni who was a patient and loving mother and colleague.
“We worked with Pathisa Nyoni very well as the National Arts Council and this is a sad and painful loss. I remember working with her and her group this year in February during the Nama’s and she was truly cooperative We shall sadly miss her generosity, love, patience and hard work in making the industry better,” she said.
Nyoni joined the arts industry in 1991 when she featured in a local drama — Power of One that was shot in the Matshobana suburb in Bulawayo. In 1992 she formed Thandanani Women’s Ensemble until she broke away in 2010 and formed Iluba Lemvelo in 2012. In 2008, her hard work was rewarded as her group – Thandanani Women Ensemble was awarded the Best Outstanding Dance Group while she was named the most Outstanding Female Dancer for that year’s edition of the National Art Merit Awards.
Matesu Dube, director of Umkhathi Theatre Works said death had robbed Bulawayo of a devoted woman who had passion in arts.
“I remember working with Nyoni when we went to South Africa while she was still with Thandanani Women’s Ensemble. She was a fine woman who had love for the arts. She was educative and good at what she did,” he said.
Simunye Simunye director Ralph Malinga weighed in saying Nyoni was a forceful member in the Bulawayo arts industry.
“We have worked with her before and we learnt a lot from her. She’s the one who taught us isitshikitsha five years back and we also worked with her during the celebrations to mark Bulawayo’s 120 years.
“Death has taken one of the most forceful members in the arts industry, one who was a good teacher, mother and colleague,” he said.
Ezimnyama Dance Ensemble director Sidine Ncube said the death of Nyoni had taken away a patient artiste in the arts industry.
“She was a person who had a good sense of humour. Artistically, she was a good teacher and a perfect dancer, she was patient with her students and she used to encourage us to research more before we presented our dances,” he said.
Nyoni is survived by her husband, six children and 11 grandchildren. Mourners are gathered at 31539/9 Entumbane in Bulawayo.
Burial arrangements are still being finalised as the family is waiting for her children to arrive from South Africa. She will however be buried in Nkayi at their rural homestead.
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Bongani Ndlovu