adminLiberty Dube
DESPITE struggling to market their works outside Mutare and carve a niche for themselves in the mainstream music industry, local artistes are taking turns to showcase their unique and exceptional artistic prowess at Hip Hop, dancehall, jazz and sungura sessions at arts centre Courtauld Theatre. It has not been a stroll in the park for local artistes who have been struggling to shine and prove mettle outside the eastern border city despite diverse and distinct talent endowed in most of them.
Thanks to art promoters and artistes such as Henry Tsopotsa, the theatre has become a safe haven for heartbroken, dejected yet talented artistes of different genres who take turns to entertain patrons by showcasing their talents all week through.
The dejected artistes, who include rappers, Kritic Igwee, Flexxo, D Block, Ba Andile, poets Morset, Archaz, sungura ensemble Mark Sounds, jazz outfits Nice to Nice, Joseph Makureya and Sunrise Band, Zim Fellas and passada singer Joe Bhasera, are still to make a name for themselves and possibly scoop gongs in the National Arts Merit awards, Zimbabwe Music Awards, Hip Hop awards just like what their counterparts in their respective genres in Harare are doing.
Having realised their impending efforts, Tsopotsa, the theatre’s art director, tabled a weekly entertainment schedule where artistes of all genres perform.
In an interview, the dreadlocked singer said it was high time people would recognise that art, despite tethering on the brink of collapse, plays a critical role in the society.
“Art is a dying trade and if you ask any artiste, people’s attitude towards artistes can easily kill their spirit and make them quit. We bore that in mind and decided to give them a chance to shine. We have held several workshops conscientising stakeholders on the need for prioritising art. Jazz artistes showcase their talent on Wednesday while Hip Hop musicians take turns to exhibit their abilities on Thursday.
“We host tens of dancehall artistes in Mutare on Friday while
Saturday is reserved for upcoming sungura musicians. We are also grateful that some experienced artistes are coming in imparting some expertise in guitar playing, composing and dancing.
“It is just a matter of time before our local artistes break into the national scene and outshine the so called talented artistes in the capital,” said Tsopotsa, a versatile artist and member of the Zim Fellas.
As one scholar would put it, art can nourish the soul, calm the mind and inspire the heart. Local art can also enrich the community.
Various artistes interviewed by The Weekender hailed the initiative said it would go a long way in marketing their talents and projects.
“We wake up every morning knowing that at least there is somewhere we can perform at and improve on stage performances among other things. Courtauld Theatre has become a place where artistes in Mutare can meet and share ideas and deliberate on challenges we face in the music art industry,” said rapper Ba Andile.
Kritic Igwee, a local-based rapper and poet said: “Like wine, we are getting better with time. “The platform (Courtauld) that has helped us improve in many ways, from confidence to stage presentation.”
Prolific poet and rapper, David “Flexxo” Mutanda urged people, particularly promoters to support local artistes than spending a fortune on promoting artistes from outside the eastern border city.
Online Reporter