adminAddressing artistes from the province referred to as the “Rainbow Province” on Sunday in Gwanda, Governor Masuku expressed concern over the lack of cooperation among artistes saying that it was detrimental to the development of the industry.
“We have quite a number of well-known artistes in this country who hail from this rainbow province but what have you benefited from them as artistes and up-coming artistes? Charity begins at home and supporting each other has to begin here, at provincial level. You need to organise yourselves because right now you are just scattered and some of you don’t even know each other and it is therefore difficult to assist each other,” she said.
Governor Masuku said most artistes in the province were not organised.
She said there was a need for artistes to earn a living from their careers.
“You need to take arts as a business and not just as a form of entertainment. You need to diversify and introduce variety in your arts business but you should not forget to depict your culture in whatever artistic work you do.
“My wish is for you to be united and don’t be strangers to each other,” said Governor Masuku.
Artistes in the rainbow province are mulling setting up the Matabeleland Performing Arts Association, a move expected to bring together artistes in the province to encourage them to work as a team.
One of the artistes from Gwanda district, Adrian Musa said the arts industry in the province is one of the least appreciated industries in the country because other people did not value their work.
“We feel that the Government should come in and support us so that our work can be well marketed so that we gain exposure,” he said.
Musa said they believed that if they formed an association, it would be a turning point for the arts industry in the rainbow province. The province would hold its annual Rainbow Province Arts Festival in Gwanda from 18 to 20 October, a platform meant for artists to market their work.
Online Reporter