Art is a curse in Zambia

Dear Editor,

ZAMBIAN artists in all disciplines must be aware that there is nothing going to be done to improve our status.

The lack of a faculty of Arts at the University of Zambia in 1966 or 67 when UNZA was opened has brought this mess.

All the presidents who went to UNZA starting from Levy Mwanawasa to Hakainde Hichilema do not know or understand the role art plays to uplift the living standard of the people.

Hollywood is America and there would have been no America without the American artists waging a propaganda war to make that country a great nation through the creative industry, especially the film industry.

Hollywood is one of the biggest money spinners in the world followed by sports.

Back home, the artists are third class citizens.

The Zambian governments do not know that in the western world the banks collect art such as paintings, sculptures as part of national treasure.

Close to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana even Lesotho banks also buy art as part of their national treasure.

The State House in Lusaka has an art collection, without a government art curator.

But to date, all presidents do not understand the value in art. Art is like gold, it appreciates all the time.

The government needs to make a turn around and invest in the arts industry.

Geoff Sitali and Wesley Kaonga were trained in America in theatre arts. Today, the government does not use them.

I have never seen any government minister attend an art exhibition or a play at Lusaka Play House.

Economists, lawyers, business women and men collect art as a sign of wealth. In Zambia a sign of being rich is driving an expensive car.

I urge the new government to invest in the creative industry.