adminBook Cafe as a hub of artistic talent.
“I am one of the first artistes to perform at the old ‘Book Cafe’ in the early 1990s with solo poetry sessions together with Albert Nyathi as well as the late Dumisani Maraire in a group called ‘Dete Mbira’ which was a fusion of poetry and mbira. This was before the coming of the now famous show, ‘Sisters Open Mic’.
“When I went to Germany in 2011 under the DAAD, a fellowship arts programme and returned a year later to find the place closed I suffered depression after looking at all the work done. The energy exerted by all the artistes with their own ray of hope being shut, was quite disturbing,” he said.
Albert Nyathi said things had changed for the better with the reopening of the joint. However, he said that established artistes groomed at the hub need to outgrow the place.
“All poets among other artistes who were created through this platform must now outgrow the place, which gave them the opportunities to be heard to ‘further grow’.
“It is now fascinating to see the young ones reciting their poems or singing not for money. This is something good for upcoming talent since they build their audience. In many clubs, they do not entertain young talent but only established ones because it is strictly business,” Nyathi said.
He said the idea behind Book Cafe was to allow for growth in the arts sector.
Online Reporter