‘Real men raise a family not a fist’

Yvonne Ncube, Showbiz Correspondent

AT a time when gender-equality engagements are gaining steam, local artiste Bright Sibanda through his song, I am a HeForShe Champion has advocated for men to take the lead and be in support of gender equality.

The versatile artiste who uses the stage name BpS ADVOCATE said the song that was launched recently, focuses on Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender equality which seeks to achieve gender equality by 2030.

Sibanda said a real man is one who raises a family, not a fist.
“The song takes its message from the HeForShe campaign which is a United Nations movement for gender equality.

The campaign strategy was launched in 2014 and later localised in Zimbabwe. It seeks to invite men and boys to stand in solidarity with women to create a bold, visible, and united force for gender equality.”

The artiste said his wish is to see men and boys at the forefront of supporting campaigns to end gender-based violence.

“As a man, I want to see all men and boys in the forefront, supporting campaigns to end gender-based violence. I also want to see men who don’t abuse their power, but use it to protect, especially the vulnerable.”

He said he is passionate about edutainment and uses his talent as a tool for advocacy on social and economic issues affecting young people, women, and girls — including those with disabilities.

“I produced this song as I’m a young man who respects women’s rights and wishes to advocate for their rights through innovative edutainment.

The strategy is to mobilise men as agents of change in the fight against gender-based violence against women and girls.

“I’ve come to realise that creative art has become the best and innovative way of conducting advocacy work, especially at the community level because most people relate well with action-packed theatre as compared to conference meetings and other forms of engagement,” he said.

The song was launched at the fifth edition of the Spotlight Light-Bulb Moments. A product of the Innovators Against Gender-Based Violence under the European Union Funded Spotlight, the initiative is a series of multi-stakeholder and solution-oriented dialogues that include youth, representatives of women’s groups facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination as well as government representatives.

Sibanda who is a singer, producer, author, actor, presenter, and dancer is among the 17 leaders of the Global Generation Equality Action Coalition on GBV. He is also the founder of YES Trust Zimbabwe, a youth-led organisation that aims to increase youth participation in decision-making. — @SeehYvonne