adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
INKULULEKO Yabatsha School of Arts (Iyasa) has been touring Europe since its inception in 2001 and found fame in the respective cities they have performed in.
Members of the group, which rose to fame through hit song Banolila, are content with their achievements so far.
Former members such as the eccentric Future Madziwa who is based in Austria and Nomathamsanqa Mkwananzi are still going strong. Mkwananzi who is globetrotting with Mother Africa — a group of performing artistes that tour the world and entertain audiences, has appeared on CNN on a number of interviews and other media outlets in the places that she tours.
But while most celebrities use their income from performances to buy flashy cars and expensive “toys”, a day spent with some members of Iyasa revealed they were more concerned with taking care of their families. The income they get from touring and performing for audiences locally and abroad is mostly spent on sprucing up family homes and taking care of their family members.
This week, Saturday Leisure had a chat with two members of this group, Sibonisiwe Sithole and Roben Mlauzi. The duo, who have 24 years experience in the arts industry, said they take performing arts as any other job as it puts food on their tables.
Sithole, a founder member of the Iyasa cast, said she had earned a living from working and touring the world with the group for the past 14 years.
“Through performing with Iyasa, I have survived in the industry for the past 14 years and I’m happy being in the group. I sustain my life and I can raise my child with the money that I get from the arts,” Sithole said.
The ex-Mpopoma High School pupil said apart from taking care of her five-year-old son, Vusumuzi, she was also a breadwinner who supported two households.
“I have travelled to many places because of arts and I have met a lot of ministers from other countries. I have bought a lot of things and I’m a breadwinner supporting two households. I have spruced up our house in Entumbane and my matrimonial home,” Sithole said.
She said as artistes, they had challenges dealing with the community which always had high expectations.
“People always expect you to be driving around in your car because you have spent all these years as an artiste touring. I feel I don’t need a car at the moment.
“I know I’ve worked for 14 years as an artiste, but having a car isn’t at the top of my list. I can’t buy a car that I will not be able to sustain at the end of the day just to please people. My life is about taking care of my family,” Sithole said.
Mlauzi, who has been with the group for the past 10 years, concurred with Sithole saying he was content with the little achievements he had made.
“Like Sibo, people at home look up to me when stuff is needed in the house. Most members of the public have high expectations because of our group’s fame, but we’re doing things in our own time and at our own pace. Truly speaking, we’re getting money to sustain ourselves and to put food on the table. What I wear is from the art I do and at home I can buy food,” Mlauzi said.
Iyasa director Nkululeko Dube said their aim was to groom talent and give those who want to enter into the world of the arts a platform to shine.
“We take raw talent and groom them into professional artistes who can fend for themselves in the future. Iyasa is just a platform for them to enter into the arts,” Dube said.
He said Iyasa was a feeder group for other arts groups in Bulawayo.
“About three quarters of arts groups in the city have someone who was trained at Iyasa. We are a feeder group that offers the equivalent to an apprenticeship to other groups,” he said.
Dube said artistes who impressed were then chosen to join the group’s international cast and were given a three-year contract.
“The artistes tour for three years and after that period, we review the contract and decide whether to renew or not,” he said.
Dube said the contract was flexible as it allowed members to pursue other lucrative deals which may arise during the length of the contract. He said former Iyasa members like Sandra Ndebele had gone solo and were doing well in the music industry.
“There were many people who have gone on to pursue their own careers in art after Iyasa. These include Sandra Ndebele who went solo and opened her own business, Prelude Sibindi who has featured on Generations, Future who has his own band and touring Europe from his base in Austria, Nomathamsanqa Mkwananzi and Silethemba Magonya who are part of Mother Africa,” Dube said.
The group is now preparing to tour Europe in March.
Online Reporter