We need more local talent on world stage

Raisedon Baya

This week I wanted to write about Thuso Mbedu, the young South African actress who is conquering Hollywood. I wanted to write about how she has completely transformed and is so convincing in the series The Underground Railroad and how Oprah Winfrey upon seeing her performance in this series immediately wanted an interview with her. I wanted to ask how many children born in Africa even wish to sit with the legendary Oprah and how many actually get to have that once in lifetime chance. But then as I was writing this story I suddenly realised that it was not my story to write. That, obviously, is a story many writers will write.

While reflecting on this I started thinking about our own artistes who have made it in Hollywood but we have never properly celebrated them. Names like Danai Gurira, Tongai Arnold Chirisa, Chipo Chung and others. My original list has Wiina Msamati but there was a time I talked about him and some people were quick to say he is Tanzanian. But I knew him as a Zimbabwean or talent that was groomed here. He and Chipo Chung were part of a very successful theatre group Over The Edge. Before we celebrate South African talent for making it on the world stage have we celebrated our own and given them their flowers? The answer would be a quick no.

How many people know about Tongai Arnold Chirisa or Chipo Chung? Of course Danai Gurira is now known.

Thanks to the amazing success of Black Panther. I think if there was a hall of fame these actors would be part of that.

But since we don’t have that how do we sing these names enough so that our young people know it’s possible to make it on the world stage — even if you come from dusty streets on Zimbabwean townships.

It also got me thinking. As a country, do we have any deliberate programmes that try to push local talent to the world stage. I know for visual arts there is the Venice Biennale. I think Zimbabwe takes a couple of visual artists to showcase at this world class event. This is a deliberate act to take Zimbabwe’s visual art onto the world stage. This effort is commendable. But is there anything, deliberate efforts by our government to export theatre, dance, music talent to the world stage? I haven’t heard of these. If I have missed these please someone point me in the right direction.

It is now a public secret that the world is now a global village. Our talent has to compete on the global stage. I have worked with a couple of young actors who given a change should go straight to Broadway or to any big stage around the world. But their only chance of making it out there is to get opportunities that take them out there, for someone to discover how talented they are. We need to deliberately, as a country, push our talent towards the world stage.

Once there is a regular platform to push and export local talent you will definitely see big results.

This is why these days I cry about building platforms and systems instead of individuals. This needs to be our national focus — building platform and institutions. I end this article by celebrating all local talent that have graced the world stage. You guys are not celebrated enough. I am even afraid to mention names here in case I leave out some of the talents. Please continue creating opportunities for others.