adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
“BULAWAYO’S cultural profile has weakened because its artistes are flocking to Harare thereby reducing cultural diversity”, Bulawayo Mayor Martin Moyo said.
Speaking at a two-day symposium on Cultural Policies and Strategies for Local Authorities held in the city which ended on Thursday, Moyo said the city’s industries needed to be revived if the city is to woo back its artistes.
“A number of artistes from here are now based in Harare. The Harare-centric cultural output has fuelled tension around issues of Harare-based cultural ‘exclusivity and hegemony’, and consequently, reduced cultural diversity.
“There is no one simple answer, basically the problem is caused by the whole macroeconomic environment. If our industries can begin to grow and absorb a lot of our people then people have extra money to pay for shows,” he said.
The symposium was attended by representatives of the Zimbabwe Local Government Association, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), cultural experts such as Cont Mhlanga, Stephen Chifunyise, Pathisa Nyathi and Raisedon Baya.
Moyo said local festivals such as Intwasa koBulawayo and Inxusa were important as they enhanced cultural tourism in the city.
He however, said as council they could not assist much as they were also cash strapped.
“These festivals bring life to the city. Council has an obligation to assist organisers of such events with resources but at the moment it is unable,” he said.
Moyo said when the economy improves, council would definitely assist organisers of such festivals.
During the symposium renowned culturalist Pathisa Nyathi challenged the Bulawayo City Council to build a monument of some sort as a way to celebrate the 120 years of the city’s establishment.
“It will be a pity if the city council has no commemorative structure for the 120 years that it is celebrating. In 1994 when the city celebrated 100 years the then town clerk Mike Ndubiwa commissioned the construction of the Amphitheatre where the national launch of Culture Week will be held on Saturday,” he said.
Nyathi said local governments should play a leading role in promoting cultural values.
“The arts and culture are very important and parliament and local authorities should have committees on arts and culture,” he said.
Raisedon Baya who also presented a paper during the symposium, said festivals assist in putting the city on the map locally and internationally.
“I have had the privilege of going to the Grahamstown festival in South Africa. Every province sends five buses full of artistes to the festival. These groups are sponsored by their respective city councils and I feel the same should happen here,” he said.
Suggestions from the plenary session were that local authorities should do more to enhance cultural tourism in their respective cities and towns.
Nhimbe Trust, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Local Government Association (ZLGA) hosted the symposium whose objective was to come up with cultural policies and strategies.
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