Reflections: The unsung heroism of the creative sector against Covid-19

THE trauma brought by the Covid-19 pandemic cannot be fully encapsulated on this page; it’s a dark chapter undeserving a revisit. The natural societal order we were once accustomed to just woke up one morning to a dramatic shift. The streets were deserted as masses complied with lockdown dictates.

News channels started to sound more like funeral hymns, counting daily the numbers of those who had succumbed to the pandemic.
However, as many sank in anxiety at home, the creative sector and its different disciplines lightened the road through entertainment while at the same time aiding in deflecting the arsenals of disinformation.

When the World Health Organisation declared the Covid-19 outbreak a global pandemic in 2020, there was a lot of public panic. With it, the floodgates of fake news and disinformation were opened which had the potential of pushing many into harm’s way. I remember coming across one account on X (formerly known as Twitter) encouraging the oral intake of a certain detergent, to cure the virus’ symptoms. Many can also recount how the global vaccination drive was initially met with indifference.

Some even classified it as a prelude to some kind of a ‘zombie apocalypse’. While the fears were motivated by the genuine desire to stay alive, much of what circulated was not in sync with scientifically proven positions. Artists across the globe working hand-in-glove with different organisations took it upon themselves to properly articulate matters to the public in a palpable manner. Songs were composed that highlighted safety guidelines in dealing with the pandemic.

In 2020, African artistes like Yemi Alade, (Nigeria) Amanda Black, (South Africa) Ahmed Soulton (Morocco) Stanley Enow, (Cameroon) and Ben Pol from Tanzania collaborated on the song Stand Together — African Anthem of Solidarity against Covid-19 which sought to shed light on the pandemic and foster an atmosphere of hope.

The visual arts sector was not to be left out. Zimbabwe saw the emergence of new works that supported the fight against the pandemic.
David Ngwerume, a sculptor based in Harare chiselled a breathtaking piece of stonework that was titled, Unto the Third Wave. The sculpture was of a woman’s image, with a pair of balancing hands administering a Covid-19 vaccine. This was a direct response to the global call to embrace the vaccination campaign.

The message artists sought to project was amplified in both the mainstream and social media, generating interesting discussions. Television programming had to change tone, not only to educate the audience about the global health challenge, but to provide the much-needed escapism from the boredom that was associated with staying indoors. New terms like Lockdown House Parties and Lockdown concerts became a common feature.
In Zimbabwe, some can recall the Gara Mumba Iwe live music performances which were aired on Zimpapers Television Network.

The assortment of artistes who graced the programme catered for various tastes while bridging the gap between them and their legion of fans who were once accustomed to outdoor merrymaking, but were now compelled to stay indoors due to the existing restrictions. For those who had a perpetual appetite for tourism, the creative space tried to break the barriers caused by the pandemic, calibrating itself to meet the different needs of individuals all in the comfort of their homes. A Rwandan start-up Kigali 360 is among the multitude of continental players that allowed multitudes to participate in virtual tours around campuses, museums, shops and exhibition centres.

Other creatives within the tourism sector even went a notch further, broadcasting wildlife scenarios, live as they unfolded in different reserves around the world although the experience was many light years away from the actual feeling of participating in the wildlife adventures in person.
It might have served as a gentle reminder to potential tourism enthusiasts of the limitless, enthralling natural sceneries the planet had on offer.
During the pandemic’s zenith, most television production houses and broadcasters operated on a lean staff base.

The few individuals who were expected to show up for duty on a rotational basis at times risked their lives to capture the relevant stories for public consumption for educational or entertainment programmes. From the musician whose strings galvanised our hopes in such trying times, the thespian who graced the empty arena performing only in front of a camera, the radio presenter whose voice captured the attention of millions when silence and fear throttled many to the sea of content producers whose works behind the lights and mic made the night of uncertainty bearable, it is prudent to say “head bowed” in appreciation.

Borrowing from the words of the Wandering Scribe, “Sometimes we experience a certain form of dearth, not because we are frail and weak, but because in the abyss of solitude, in our moments of despair, art for us lacks, to paint what a brighter tomorrow shall look like.”