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Gibson Mhaka
AUGUST is a month of profound significance in Zimbabwe, a period dedicated to honouring the lives of the nation’s heroes and heroines who made immense sacrifices for the country’s independence.
This solemn month is also a time of great loss for Bulawayo’s vibrant arts sector, which mourned the passing of three iconic figures. The city bid farewell to the legendary Cont Mhlanga on 2 August 2022 and to the esteemed Insimbi ZeZhwane lead vocalist Elvis “Ma Eli” Mathe and the band’s drummer, Thembinkosi “Maviri” Mpofu, on 5 August 2023.
Their departures left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Bulawayo and Zimbabwe as a whole. Cont was a veteran playwright, actor, and filmmaker known for founding the Amakhosi Cultural Centre to discover and nurture artistic talent — a remarkable achievement.
The two Insimbi ZeZhwane late band members were declared provincial heroes, and the military was present during Ma Eli’s burial in Tsholotsho.
As part of commemorating the two band members’ first anniversary, in an interview with our sister paper, Chronicle, the group’s co-founder and bassist, Meluleki “Brema” Moyo, said they have not planned anything big in remembrance of the late members, but said they would deliver groceries to Ma Eli’s family.
Turning to Cont’s brother, Styx, in a bid to keep his legacy alive, he said significant strides have been made as two writers were working on books about his life and contributions.
Styx mentioned that the biographies are expected to be published soon, with progress being made on that front. While Styx is actively working to preserve Cont’s legacy through upcoming biographies, the situation appears different for the late members of Insimbi ZeZhwane.
Despite the first anniversary of their passing, Brema indicated that no concrete plans have been made to commemorate their lives and contributions to the band.
This discrepancy highlights the varying approaches to honouring departed cultural icons in the community.
Although there is a contrast in how the two groups are handling the loss of their members, it’s important to note that August is a particularly tragic month for Bulawayo’s arts scene.
The arts community commemorated the second anniversary of Cont’s passing on Thursday last week and that of Ma Eli and Maviri on Monday this week. There is no doubt that the month of August should be revered as a significant period of remembrance for the arts sector in the Matabeleland region.
The passing of these influential artists has left an enduring impact on the cultural landscape, and their contributions should be honoured through annual commemorations and celebrations of their work.
While it’s true that the arts community in Matabeleland has lost numerous talented individuals throughout the year, the month of August holds a particularly poignant significance.
The passing of renowned figures like Cont and members of Insimbi ZeZhwane within this period has underscored its importance as a time of reflection and commemoration. By designating August as a month to honour these departed artistes, the region can create a lasting tribute to their invaluable contributions to the arts and culture.
Renowned playwright and Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo director Raisedon Baya supports the idea of establishing an annual remembrance for Cont in August.
Baya, whose career was shaped by Cont’s work in theatre and film, believes there should always be something in the month of August to honour Cont’s legacy, his contributions, and his vision.
“He played a bigger role and I think his passing away is a great loss, and that void he left will be difficult to fill. I think for me personally, there are two ways to remember him: one, to find a way that probably in August there should always be something to be set aside in remembrance of Cont Mhlanga and what he stood for, what he started, and what he believed in.
“I’m thinking in terms of a series or performances where people are picking one or two of his plays and then bringing them back to life just to remember him and celebrate his life and what he did. Then also, I think we also need to really, as a city, find a way to honour him, maybe through a statue or street naming of a building somewhere. I think he deserves that because he literally dedicated his life to the arts, to improve the life of arts and to push us into the mainstream media,” Baya said. Solidifying his idea that there should always be something set aside in August to celebrate Cont’s enduring influence, Baya chronicled the role played by Cont in the arts sector, not only in Bulawayo but in Zimbabwe as a whole
“Sometimes, the loss happens, and you are unsure of the impact until it’s gone. Cont’s influence and impact on the arts sector before he died is something that is well documented. He was a pioneer of the arts, especially theatre, and whatever we have now is probably a result of his influence.
“We know how he started Amakhosi and how it became an influencer in the influx or emergence of a lot of local drama groups in Bulawayo. He became an influence in terms of the cultural landscape of Bulawayo. Right now, we always say Bulawayo is the cultural city and cultural capital of the country because of the vibrancy in the arts sector. I think that is due to Cont’s work and influence,” said Baya.
He said Cont’s work was not just confined to Bulawayo, as his influence was national and sometimes even international.
“We know that during its peak, Amakhosi, especially, would do national and international tours. In terms of the arts, especially theatre, it was started by Amakhosi, and even up to now, that influence is still felt by many people.
“We also know the impact he had in terms of television and short films, and I think a lot of people would probably remember Amakorokoza, Sinjalo, and other films or TV series he did,” he said.
He said Cont’s influence was not just about doing his pieces, but his best part was that he was able to weave proper social and relevant issues with entertainment, be it on stage, theatre or film.
“In theatre, I think most of his comic plays that he will be remembered by is Nansi le Ndoda, which was one of the first plays to be really recognised nationally. There was also Stitsha, which spoke to issues that a lot of us, especially those growing up in the township, can relate to. Stitsha, I think, is one of the first plays that started talking about women’s empowerment and emancipation way before the women’s movement took over.
He was already talking about those issues. With Dabulap, he was talking about the issues of migration, and look now, probably 25 years later, the issue is still pertinent and relevant, and that speaks to how good he was and how prophetic he probably was. That has a serious influence in terms of his work,” explained Baya.
He added: “Cont and a few other artists are the ones who actually influenced a lot of higher learning institutions like the University of Zimbabwe, Midlands State University and Lupane State University to start the study of theatre and drama, making it really part and parcel of the curriculum. Even what we are seeing now is a result of the path he started long back in terms of wanting theatre and arts to be really important in the education system and also in our lives”.
Rhumba/Tshibilika musician Godolude, real name Mandlenkosi Mpofu, who worked with MaEli for a long time, also subscribed to the idea of designating August as a month to honour these departed artistes, saying the region can create a lasting tribute to their invaluable contributions to the arts and culture.
“MaEli was becoming a household name when it came to Tshibilika music. He was good and creative, and I believe he would have gone far if he were still alive. As an artiste who worked with MaEli, I support the idea of designating August as a month to honour these departed artists who died in that month. Although we support the idea, as artistes we are not financially capable nor do we have the power to make it happen. It also needs the support of the entire sector and private companies to materialise,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dendera pioneer Simon Chimbetu, affectionately known to his fans as “Chopper,” is also another musician who died in August. He died on 5 August, 2005, and is a provincial hero who was buried at Mashonaland West Provincial Heroes Acre in Chinhoyi.
Chopper was one of the popular patriotic musicians whose music oiled the liberation war. His death has now become an annual event throughout August, with commemorative gigs organised under the theme “Celebrating the life of a hero and music icon.”
It is important to note that August, a month typically associated with sombre reflection and national heroism in Zimbabwe, has taken on a particularly poignant meaning for the country’s arts sector. Not only has Bulawayo borne the brunt of these losses with the passing of Cont and Insimbi ZeZhwane band members, but the nation as a whole also mourns the absence of musical giants like Chimbetu, whose untimely demise in August continues to be marked with commemorative gigs.
This month, more than any other, serves as a stark reminder of the immense talent lost and the enduring impact these artistes have left on Zimbabwean culture.
Arts, especially music, books and poetry, played a big role in conscientising the masses during the war of liberation.
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter