adminNtombiyolwandle Ndlovu, Sunday Leisure Reporter
THEY say that the arts industry does not pay, but this assertion does not ring true for Bulawayo poet and Master of Ceremony Obert Dube who has defied the odds and gained from the arts industry in Zimbabwe.
Dube has managed to build himself a six-roomed house in Mkhosana, Victoria Falls, where he is based. Speaking to Sunday Leisure, Dube said that he has just finished building the house that he started on two years ago. Dube said that he has been saving the little that he was getting from the arts to make his dream come true.
“I can’t say I am clever but I am a God-fearing person who has managed to be economic and saved the little money that I was earning from performing in different functions. I was lucky that in the last two years I managed to get international performances in Botswana, South Africa and Zambia. This has earned me money to build my house. I have managed to market myself around the country and even internationally,” said Dube.
Dube also said that it is not every artiste in the industry who manages to get money or save money to buy or build a house as the industry can prove to be arid for some.
“We as artistes are faced with many challenges in this industry. We are not respected, for example there is too much piracy. I have three albums and you will not find people coming to me buying the CDs, they go to people who are into piracy. In general people don’t want to pay for arts. I am a master of ceremony and people would love me coming to their wedding performing but when it comes back to them paying me, it becomes hard for them. These are just a few of the problems that we are facing as artistes,” said Dube.
Dube has urged people in the arts industry and up-and-coming artistes to always do their best in whatever they do.
“Do everything that you do at your level best because you never know it might be your turning point in life. Also artistes should be more economic and use money wisely. We should work hard and earn more money and try to remove the misconception that arts do not pay,” said Dube.
Dube was born in Dandanda, Mthenjwa Village in Lupane. He started poetry at Siyagomoza Secondary School.
Dube can speak many languages including Xhosa, SiNdebele, Kalanga, Shona, Tonga, Spanish, French, Chewa, Nambya and Setswana.
Last year, Dube won himself an award at the National Arts Merit Awards for being an outstanding poet. He has proved to be popular beyond the borders of Zimbabwe as he has performed in the Karakal festival in Botswana, Anniversary of Bhekumuzi Luthuli in South Africa and Zambia.
Locally Dube performed at the unveiling of the statue of the late Vice-President Dr Joshua Nkomo, at Roots of Africa and most even for President Mugabe. Outside the arts industry Dube is a former teacher at Mosi-oa-Tunya High School in Victoria Falls and a holder of a Higher National Diploma in Human Resources.
Bongani Ndlovu