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IS Bulawayo cultureless? Let’s talk. We have to change the way we brand the arts sector in the city (if ever there is such a brand). In so many platforms, this has been the mantra. Anyone who still thinks Bulawayo rocks in the cultural and entertainment business is probably about to go for a mental examination.
I am prompted to ask: Did you know that it’s Culture Week? I am fully aware that many of you have no clue at all.
Last weekend Culture Week was launched at the Amphitheatre. I do not think the city deserved this honour. Authorities should have seen that coming. Right on their face, the egg cracked and organisers were left embarrassed.
All efforts to revive the city keep hitting a snag. Those who attended the launch will attest that they felt ashamed to be residents of this city, once famous as a cultural melting pot.
It would seem that artistes, cultural think tanks and activists were the only ones who knew about the event. Word about Culture Week did not spread anywhere besides some people’s Facebook walls with some filler stories in newspapers.
That chap at the street corner knew nothing. Neither did the gossipy women at the 5th Avenue market. Who should have told them?
I would think someone slept on duty or the words public awareness and publicity are missing in their vocabulary.
The number of people that attended the launch last Saturday was an indication of sorts. The people of Bulawayo were not told they would play host. Those who got wind of it chose to snub the show.
The venue was not favourable too. Let us consider that there is nothing exciting in that part of the city, especially during daylight.
Maybe the City Hall could have been better. Why celebrate culture away from the people? Do we fear being looked down upon because we love our culture?
Blame goes either side for the flop that came with cultural celebration in the city. Appreciation of cultural values is a story yet to be told. Only old folks I feel are still talking about the old way of doing things.
Talk of culture is left to those who once lived the “real” African way.
The young have their own culture. Strangely though, the way of life in Bulawayo is borrowed. From the dress, food and entertainment, the South African style dominates.
On the music scene, there is an attachment to lyrics and the beat from the southern tip of Africa. The fact that local artistes hardly enjoy the same support rendered to house and kwaito stars is enough to justify a failed city.
Our mothers like to dress like nannies and house girls in South Africa’s leafy suburbs. We love the way Jozi people speak, their lingo sounds so good that we end up speaking like them.
Oh, and their soapies and movies keep us at the edge of the couch!
Bulawayo is hit by cultural imperialism. That is crude but an observation that leaves many of us talking. What new trend can one come across in the city?
Of course the head argument would be say people have a right to choose how they live. Fair and fine, but what happened to the pride of being Zimbabwe’s cultural hub?
Pride goes before a fall — maybe this is what happened. Will we talk of a unique, cultural hub in our stories about Bulawayo?
The non-event that came with this year’s Culture Week celebrations stirs a rather healthy debate on the state of affairs in the city.
The urban beats movement is concerned. The artistes are silent. Someone up there probably put them on mute. It was expected that arts groups, as many as they are, get on the streets and remind citizens of the need to celebrate the way we live (but not the foreign way of life).
We do not identify with ourselves, which is why many felt humiliated to push the boat out during Culture Week. This is a disturbing trend that has gored high offices too.
Politicians, arts administrators and government officials view cultural activities as archaic. Funding figures for the country’s cultural industry are sickening.
Speeches about reviving the city’s fortunes on the showbiz sector are just but words. There seems to be a fear of the unknown that has contained many a politician and corporates when it comes to funding the arts. Even mere talk of things cultural is taboo.
I implore the arts minister, Andrew Langa to invest in the industry. If Hollywood has the capacity to contribute significantly to the US economy, I see no objection in Zimbabwe’s cultural industry doing the same.
It takes initiative. Artistes must engage other stakeholders in addressing the dreary situation. Part of the reasons people did not “feel” this year’s Culture Week celebration stem from the lack of commitment from government.
Let us not relegate such commemorations to passing events. Instead of letting officials plan, artistes should take over the organising of festivities to do with art, culture and entertainment.
Although we commend the commitment from government to have people gathered and talk about culture, more has to be done.
In the arts sector, it is clear that there is no collective network or communication. In the past instalments we said it clearly that the business needs to conference on such issues.
Change the way we brand art!
Whose responsibility is it? It is high time for the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe to work with relevant artistes. This is no one man job.
With the economic hardship facing the city’s residents, it looks okay to keep busy with other activities. To watch and listen as people talk about culture is daunting.
But, are we that occupied to forget who we are? We are content with leaving our communities suffer as they adore foreign cultures.
Cultural talk is labelled as a rural thing. Those who come from the rural areas are best suited to that. Popular thinking is, can one talk about it in the city?
In the past years, the hype about the culture celebrations spread all over. What is the difference now?
In a city suffering a stinky apathy to everything, who could have expected crowds at the Amphitheatre? The problem with such events is that they are organised by armchair officials.
I was reminded of Cont Mhlanga. The arts guru is on record questioning the significance of Culture Week. Why dedicate seven days to what we do all year round?
Keep thinking!
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Online Reporter