National Arts Council director calls for innovation, professionalism

Trust Khosa

National Arts Council of Zimbabwe executive director, Napoleon Nyanhi has urged musicians and their handlers to be

innovative in this digital era.

Nyanhi made the call on Thursday night during the Music Management Forum of Zimbabwe (MMFZ) leaders’ networking

cocktail held at The Grub Restaurant in Eastlea, Harare, where he was guest of honour.

In his address, Nyanhi urged musicians and their handlers to go the extra mile for the growth of the arts sector.

“As the music industry continues to evolve, I urge you to stay adaptable, innovative, and true to your artists’ unique voices,” he

said.

“Keep pushing boundaries, fostering collaboration, and advocating for the power of music to transform lives.

“The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe is there to support you by creating an enabling environment for music to thrive.”

Nyanhi told guests that musicians have the potential to contribute towards the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

“Musicians and their managers have a great responsibility to implement some of the interventions for the transformation of our

industry towards Vision 2030,” he said.

“In other economies, the world over, music is a great contributor to the GDP, and you will always find a musician among the list

of the wealthiest people on a continent.

“It is my wish to see our local musicians earning fortunes and creating legacies that entice the younger generation to follow the

arts route.”

He also expressed his gratitude over the increase in registered music promoters, which has made MMFZ’s role easier.

“We are glad that this year we have registered a good number of promoters and music festivals and that has brought a lot of life

to our entertainment scene,” he said.

“We are proud of the standard that local festivals and promoters have set so far, the future is bright.

“Let us create synergies that bring growth to our sector. Each one of us here has something special that another person needs.”

NACZ deputy board chair Marcus Gora, festivals director Walter Wanyanya and artistic manager Diana Nheera also graced the

event.

Musicians Mannex Motsi, Mic Inity, Sarah Dee, music managers, promoters and talent scouts also attended the event.