Poets urged to adapt to digital media
BULAWAYO poet, author and music content creator Nqobizwe Malinga (pictured) has urged poets to move with time and shift to digital media in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic whose containment measures include a ban on public gatherings and practising social distancing.
Traditionally, Bulawayo is known for live poetry performances and has in recent years produced some of the country’s finest poets.
Malinga told NewsDay
Life & Style that
2020 had seen a slow-down in creative business following the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The poetry world has been dull this year than it has ever been in recent years. But then there are some, like myself and others in my circle, who have had the privilege of having poetry released through digital media,” he said.
“Be it audio poetry, video or animated, the point is that it has been able to break the ice as far as new content is concerned. Hence, I have developed the opinion that maybe poets should shift their attention to digital media since COVID-19 is likely to stick with us for a prolonged period.”
Malinga, however, said lack of resources to produce competitive audio and video recordings could be a hindrance for many poets.
“Also, digital media poetry still does survive in an act as simple as a piece of art recorded from a phone — and at times even without edits these can be broadcast even on ZBC,” he said.
“There is a programme called Spoken Word on ZBC and I have submitted content there once or twice. Of the videos aired there, very few are from Bulawayo as most of our poets have one or two videos of a live performance they had in some event.”
Malinga said digital media art was designed to last longer and penetrate the audience further than live performances.