Arts awards ceremony changed Byo landscape
EDITOR — United Refineries led by the visionary Mr Busisa Moyo has provided a template of how social investment can change any landscape.
Arguably the best awards ceremony to be held in the City Of Kings, the electrifying atmosphere, the glitz and glitter and the high turnout were testimonial of the support that the artistes and the community invested into the Roil BAAS.
It was a memorable event that one hopes can remain on the calendar of Bulawayo forever. It is indeed pleasing to witness the corporate sector and the Arts industry moving hand in glove to uplift the standards of the arts industry in Bulawayo.
On a different note artistes from Bulawayo need to change their thinking and view of South African artistes. The belief that Bulawayo does not support the arts industry was debunked on that wonderful Saturday night.
It is not possible for many people in Bulawayo to regard South African artistes as foreign as only the borders separate the two due to historical and cultural ties that will not be broken through a journalist’s pen.
From the 1950s Bulawayo has shared music, drama, plays and virtually the entire arts arena with their South African counterparts.
The voice of Mahlathini and the melody of the Soul Brothers can be heard even today in the remotest part of Matabeleland.
Bulawayo artistes must see Southern Africa as a market rather than as competition. Ndebele which most of them use is understood by more than 40 million under the Nguni language (Xhosa, SiSwati, Zulu and Ndebele). Therefore instead of limiting themselves to Bulawayo they must produce works that will be appreciated in Swaziland and South Africa and indeed throughout Africa.
Nigerian artistes notwithstanding the language barrier have broken into many countries as music is a universal language. The tendency to view South Africa as a competitor must come to an end. Collaborations and cross-border cooperation must assist in creating an even a bigger market.
Zinjaziyamluma from Tsholotsho is one of the biggest names in Mzansi maskandi music. I hope the new thinking can free our artistes from a self-imposed prison into the throngs of a Africa that has been waiting.
I also hope that United Refineries will continue the sponsorship of the RoilBAAS. I urge the Bulawayo artistes and community to support United Refineries, by for example buying their products. For artistes maybe if possible have a banner during all performances featuring United Refineries products.
One would have expected the artistes to come together and compose a good song for free on any one of the United Refineries products. As an artiste myself I have already become an ambassador for United Refineries. We need to prove that the generous sponsorship can be translated into huge benefits for all stakeholders. Sanele Mdawini Sibanda, Bulawayo