Nyathi receives award

Poet, musician and gender equality activist Albert Nyathi receives certificate from National Arts Council executive director Elvas Mari. Nyathi was recently awarded the Best innovative Individual Towards Attainment of Gender Parity Award for 2016 by the Women’s University in Africa at a function held at Rainbow Towers.As Nyathi was unable to attend due to other pressing commitments, Mari received the award on his behalf. Other winners were Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda (Lead Advocate in Gender Parity Award) as well as a joint honours for Loveness Mudzuro and Ruvimbo Topodzi (Lifetime Achievement in Gender Issues Award).

Mudzuro and Topodzi are the two women whose court case against the state for allowing them to be child brides brought about the recent constitutional banning of child marriages. Part of Nyathi’s citation read:

“Albert Nyathi is one of the 13 creative artistes chosen to use arts as a vehicle to end violence against women. He is working on a 20 track multi lingual album which is meant to raise awareness and prevent, eliminate or eradicate violence against women through arts.

The poet–cum–musician is using practices and norms that cause gender stereotyping and encouraging positive gender interactions in society.

He has published and one of his books titled “My Daughter” is a children’s book focusing on gender equality. Albert is the United Nations Gender champion and Zimbabwe’s representative in the Regional Creative Artistes Advisory Council which was launched in 2012.”