Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
WORKING as an arts journalist in Matabeleland South province, Sithokozile Sibanda (35), got to see the limited coverage artistes in marginalised communities experienced.
This pushed her to start her own company, Rainbow Province Creatives Private Limited, early last year.
Under the company, she established Creatives Magazine, which is an online publication where she showcases the work of local artistes, most of whom are still budding.
She has published five editions since the launch of the magazine which is published quarterly.
Sibanda is the main content creator for the magazine whose first issue was published in March last year.
In recognition of her work, Sibanda won the 2021 National Arts Merit Awards Outstanding Print Journalist Award while working for Ilanga Newspaper. She was also named Journalist of the Year at The Eminent in Sports Music and Academic Awards (Tesma) during the same year.
Sibanda also received a certificate of merit for her nomination for Outstanding Arts Journalist award at the Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards (RoilBAA).
Last year, Creatives Magazine received a certificate of merit as a nominee for Outstanding Online Media at the RoilBAA.
To add to her many proud moments, Sibanda received a resilience award from the African Women Entrepreneurship Corporative (AWEC) training held in Kenya early this year.
Saturday Chronicle caught up with the passionate Sibanda who shared more about her work.
“My organisation focuses on the creative and cultural industry and for now concentrating on Matabeleland South. This is a talent publicity platform for creatives in the marginalised remote rural areas of Zimbabwe. Under Rainbow Province Creatives Private Limited, we focus on the production and distribution of an online magazine which is called Creatives Magazine. We also offer artistes professional management services as well as documentary production,” she said.
Sibanda said she used to work as a reporter for a local newspaper on a voluntary basis as special arts correspondent in charge of the arts and entertainment column from 2021 to 2022. Her work as an arts reporter saw her receive different accolades.
Sibanda said the achievements she recorded within a year motivated her to start her own publication. She said her passion is to uplift creatives based in marginalised communities.
“The up-and-coming artistes in the remote parts of the country received limited coverage in the mainstream media. This inspired me to start Creatives Magazine. The magazine is the main product that we offer under Rainbow Province Creatives Private Limited and we will be introducing more products soon,” she said.
Sibanda said in her next magazine issue, she will be featuring imbube groups. The edition, which will be the sixth, is due next month.
Sibanda said she has interviewed a number of imbube groups that she will be featuring in the next issue in which she has partnered Thobela Arts Foundation.
Sibanda said when working on her articles, she conducts in-depth research to ensure that readers have as much information on the topics as possible.
Sibanda who is operating on a voluntary basis said her desire to showcase and uplift artistes keeps her motivated. She said publicity plays a key role in the career of an artist as it exposes them to possible opportunities for growth and development.
Sibanda is working on a business plan to help her monetise her brand.
She has since undertaken entrepreneurship training in order to obtain skills to develop her business. Sibanda underwent a one-year mentorship under the African Women Entrepreneurship Corporative (AWEC) programme where she received a certificate following the completion of the course last month.
The training is a platform for women to be equipped with leadership and management skills.
Her brand Creatives Magazine is available on the website www.creativesmagazine.co.zw where she also posts regular arts articles.
“We also have a Facebook page and we are also accessible on LinkedIn. I also share the magazine via WhatsApp on different groups in order to have as much readership as possible. My work has great impact as I have been getting positive feedback from artistes after we have profiled them. Being published helps artistes to be exposed to possible growth and development,” she said.
Sibanda said her desire is to build her brand into a digital magazine power house platform for creatives based in the marginalised remote areas of Africa. She said she wants her brand to open avenues for many artistes.
Sibanda is the Zimbabwe Open University Regional programme co-ordinator in the Faculty of Arts Culture and Heritage Studies specialising in Journalism and Media Studies. She is also a Media and Journalism lecturer majoring in Desktop Publishing and Film Studies among other courses.
Sibanda attained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Media Studies from the Zimbabwe Open University in 2013. She completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Media and Society Studies from Midlands State University in 2014. Sibanda attained a Master of Science Degree in Journalism and Media Studies from the National University of Science and Technology in 2017.
She has also published research articles in reputable journals focusing on the media, journalism and the creatives and cultural industry. — @DubeMatutu
Online Reporter