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MAMBOKADZI founder Enisia Mashusha is the quintessential jack of all trades. The actress, dancer and choreographer who made a breakthrough in mainstream entertainment in 2005 with her group Mambokadzi, achieved in the shortest time, what most people can only be content of imagining or dreaming of in their entire lives.But Mashusha believes she still has more to offer and accomplish. The artiste recently revamped her multi-award winning group Mambokadzi, which disbanded in 2010, though her mission is now an entirely different one.
In fact, the talented and decorated artiste is bitter.
Mashusha feels the dance industry that she together with her counterparts, Amavhitikhazi, Girls La Musica, Exotic Dancers and Girls of Peace, helped form has been grossly polluted and is no longer worth celebrating.
Reports indicate that a number of dance groups are now violating their licences by offering strip-tease services they are not licenced for.
The Sunday Mail Leisure last week caught up with the talented artiste and she opened up on a number of issues. Read On…
Q: As one of the pioneers of the dance industry, are you happy with how the sector has evolved over the years?
A: I want ladies to know that dancing is not all about nudity/exposing your body. It is about the movement. You can dance in a very long skirt and still be appreciated. If you notice we were popular even in our decent dressing. We performed at weddings or corporate functions but most current dance groups will not make the grade. Why is it that men do not dance nude?
Q: Apama, a man, does so. He actually calls himself a male stripper and is very popular.
A: I used to know Apama dancing in clothes. I guess he has also been corrupted. This is how bad the influence is. Probably he now thinks this is the only way he can be famous or make money. But that is wrong and we should work on addressing that anomaly.
Q: But as one of the pioneers of the industry, are you not partly to blame? Certainly you have not been helping in keeping the founding principles in check.
A: You might be right; I think things got worse when I stopped being actively involved in the dance industry. I was once part of the Dancers Association of Zimbabwe (DAZ) and things were better then but when I left it got out of hand. DAZ should be responsible for addressing these negative issues. But how can the association do so when Harpers (Mapimhidze) the president is also managing Bev (Beverly Sibanda) who is making money because of some of these acts? We did not mingle with the patrons that much hence we were a bit safe. We juggled between the changing room, stage and going home after a gig in the same car. But these days dancers join the audience, drink with them and go back on stage. You can imagine the result.
Q: You recently revamped Mambokadzi following a six-year hiatus, what are your plans?
A: We are moving in a completely different direction. Like I said, the dance industry is now sullied. It is now more of stripping and most people now look down upon dancers because they associate them with dirty things and we cannot be associated with that. My experience with Amakhosi has helped me move on. We are now doing plays that are family friendly. I’m passing the little I learnt in theatre to the ladies so that we promote good practices in next generations. Someone has to do well for the sake of our future. We have a musical play that we are doing called “Mama Africa” that incorporates dance and acting. The play deals with women issues, rape, child labour, abuse etcetera. And the plays are done in halls, corporate functions, church and Theatre in the Park. We no longer go to imbibing joints. We have changed the face of Mambokadzi, which includes Sphiwe Buwera, Brenda Sibanda, Nokhuthaba Ncube, Jesmine Moyo, Amanda Ndlovu, Pretty Sithole, Portia and myself. We regrouped in March this year.
Q: What happened to your plans of recording a gospel album?
A: Since I had distanced myself from secular things I thought of turning my art into praise. The album though has not yet been recorded due to circumstances beyond my control. I left the dance industry because I was overwhelmed with ungodly things that were happening around me. I got confused. The pressure was just too much and I decided to follow Christ. I’m now a devout Christian. I have been one before, but I began to understand the word more because of the circumstances I found myself in. I have been part of PHD ministries since 2013.
Q: Are “the circumstances” the reason you abruptly disbanded Mambokadzi, which was then doing well?
A: (Chuckles) Chief was economic challenges that set us back. But I also think I got tired of grooming people. My girls were a target of most man in town. I have lost more than 30 ladies to men. Each time I brought in new ladies they would get married/elope. Some still have their unions intact while others have unfortunate stories to tell. Some men are good at deceiving, promising heaven on earth when they cannot offer even decent care. In short, I got tired of the unfruitful circle.
Q: And your breakaway from Amavhitikhazi a group you helped form?
A: There are some group dynamics that take place in every organisation so I just discovered I was no longer fit to be part of that ensemble hence I decided to leave. I did not part ways with the intention of forming my own group but because I was a PR person and with a heavy passion for arts, I got contacts from a number of corporate people after negotiations hence I formed Mambokadzi in 2005.
Q: Can you highlight some of Mambokadzi’s major successes?
A: Our first gig was at the Mzee Bira in Bindura and the response was overwhelming. After that we shared the stage with the then popular South African artiste Mzekezeke at Sports Diner, local big names Oliver Mtukudzi, the late Tongai Moyo and Alick Macheso. We were also once part of the Big Five concert that was held at HICC. In 2007/8 National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) awards, we were nominated thrice for Best Dance Group, Best Video and People’s Choice. And one of my girls got the best dancer award in 2009. Then in 2010 we recorded our first album called “iDanger” featuring “Ndotamba” with Gramma Records but it was poorly marketed. The album is sometimes played on radio and people ask about it. That very same year (2010) I stopped dancing and producing music.
Q: I guess that is the time you moved into construction. Is the company still operating?
A: The construction thing was an experiment. Of course, I am a go getter but along the way things did not work out as planned. I failed to pursue the dream because of the economic challenges I mentioned earlier on. We did projects in Kwekwe and Mukuvisi where we used to do driveways. I employed man for the project.
Q: Can you tell us briefly about yourself?
A: I was born in Bulawayo at Mphilo hospital in 1973 and learnt at Mzilikazi primary school. My secondary I went to Saint Columbus High School and did secretarial courses at Bulawayo Polytechnic College then I went into art. I have two kids a boy and a girl aged seven and five. I came to Harare as a Matabeleland representative of the SADC dance festival in 2001. And I was identified on stage by companies that offered me work. I almost went to Air Force but feared training.
I started acting in 1994 with Nostalgic Actors and Singers Alliance (NASA) currently operating as Siyaya Arts and from there I moved to Amakhosi Theatre where I did an acting course, singing, dancing production management and I graduated after three years. After that I have done television plays like “Fragments”, “Stitsha”, “Manje So?” among many others.
When I was at Amakhosi I got a number of awards from the National Theatre Organisation (NTO), which are equivalent to Nama and I got the best actress award. Also I did a number of plays on radio and I got a number of awards for best actress for my role in “Mopani Junction”. I have travelled both internationally and regionally. I have been to Switzerland, USA, Norway and Sweden through art.
I also attended a directors’ workshop in Sweden a year ago. I was given a task to direct a play that was premiered at Hifa and it got a positive response. It was my first time doing so.
Q: What is your desire in this industry?
A: I want to change how people see women in art. As long as you are a female artiste people especially men think you are loose. I want people to view an artiste as an artiste not anything else. I also wish the corporate sector to continue supporting arts. Without them there is no future for us. As it stands, passion is driving the arts industry. I started from the grassroots as an actor, dancer but I’m now also directing and wish the same or better for others.
Online Reporter