Talking Arts: Untikolotshi and SKYZ METRO

Nkululeko Nkala

If you are not new to this column you would know by now that I have a thing for these aï¿½?iphepha likaZuluaï¿½? titles.

Do not be alarmed, there is no Ntikolotshi at Skyz Metro. There is one at the National Gallery today though, but itaï¿½ï¿½s not a real one, itaï¿½ï¿½s a theatre piece by Nonhlalo Dube.

This is part of the Theatre For Everyone project which began last month with the play aï¿½ï¿½ The Ben 10.

The piece is directed by renowned playwright Styx Mhlanga and features a mixed cast of experienced and amateur actors.

Letaï¿½ï¿½s rewind to a year ago, when we were all ecstatic at about this time of the year as BAZ announced that Bulawayo hadAï¿½ got its first ever commercial radio licence.

The set date for broadcasting was 01 September 2015. An amazing group of young people made the list of presenters to take the station to the next level.

Some advertised their shows, it was amazing. Ok let me stop at that because I still believe things will happen, Skyz will come through for us. I always thought many music people were just good at complaining until I joined them.

I will tell you right now, itaï¿½ï¿½s hard to get your music played by these radio stations. Skyz is the answer to that predicament.

Why am I writing about Skyz? There is one of the fastest growing online magazines called Urban Culxure in Bulawayo. They sort of wrote a piece on the Skyz issue. To be honest it was a little brutal, but an opinion piece nonetheless.

I know thousands agree with their view, which was more of a dig at Skyz for failing to be up after they promised to be up and running a while ago. The title of their piece is aï¿½?5 reasons why Skyz Metro wonaï¿½ï¿½t make it in the big radio leagueaï¿½? (a rather bold claim).

Anyway though I could come up with aï¿½?20 reasons why Skyz will make itaï¿½?, what was really sad is that the writer went on to say the station would be located at a primitive location. Meaning Makokoba is primitive. Primitive, really?

Does that mean all acts from there are primitive? That was a really low point.

By the way Urban Culxure are responsible for that list of Influential People in the city which was in no particular order. They also created another named the top five most beautiful celebrities in the city. (enough said)

Back to tonight, the biggest comedian in the country is in the city Friday. Carl Joshua Ncube is part of UMahlekisa Comedy club which will be happening at the Rainbow Hotel.

The Ntando Moyo led club has been growing with each show. Carl is the ultimate for a period like this one, where itaï¿½ï¿½s gig after gig. Legendary Oliver Mtukudzi will be at the Large City Hall today. The city and its many visitors are spoilt for choice. What I believe to be the event of the night if not the weekend will be The Miss Africa Zimbabwe Pageant being held by Fingers Academy. The event will be on the street along 11th avenue.

Sixteen models from the countryaï¿½ï¿½s 10 provinces will battle it out for the coveted crown.

Tomorrow is another big day for the creative sector as two high flying artistes, Winky D and Jah Prayzah square off with the South African contingent of Nathi, Kid X and Bucie among others. ZITF has breathed a little bit of life into the city. To all those artists that will be flying our city flag high, please represent us well. Until next week, be saf . . .