2024: Artistes speak on resolutions, vision
AS the Year 2024 curtains up promising to be an eventful and exhilarating period of undiluted fun, more new productions and feats, our Lifestyle, Entertainment and Tourism Correspondent, Liberty Dube this week caught up with various arts personalities in Manicaland who shared their vision and resolutions of the new season.
Jabulani ‘JB’ Mangezi (Diamond FM Station Manager)
In 2024, we aim to continue our synergies with performing artistes by hosting more live events. We plan to start early with a Valentine’s Day event, our traditional anniversary in May, and the flagship Osborne Summer Fest. As part of our mandate, we also want to host at least two events in Buhera and Chipinge districts respectively.
Our aim is to help empower artistes through commercial engagements via concerts and actors, voice-overs and commercial dramatisation. We are also open to proposals from local artistes on mutually beneficial projects over and above our mandate to give a platform to established and emerging artistes from across Manicaland.
Carol Makoni (National Arts Council Manicaland Director)
We want to engage more this year. We have already set that in motion with the meeting that we held with the Acting Town Clerk of Mutare City Council. Hot on the heels of the aforementioned will be an Arts
Indaba which is expected to set the tone for the year. The Year 2024 will see more capacitation of arts associations in various issues, for example inter alia, corporate governance, fundraising and digitalisation. Arts awards are also on the horizon.
Mama Vee (Comedien)
I am working towards improving Brand Mama Vee and generating more money. It is a case of working harder and broadening my fan base. I also aim to release a book which basically talks about my journey as a comedien, how I started, the highs and lows and many other things that people are interested to know about me. It is a story of inspiration and perseverance.
Tawanda Chitsa (Show promoter)
The ultimate vision is to keep the Chitsa brand growing in leaps and bounds. I can safely say that 2023 was a successful year, and I managed to achieve one of my dreams of nurturing and promoting upcoming artistes. Focusing on the new year, we are working towards attracting big names in the arts industry, without abandoning the local crop. We have already started the ball rolling as we will be bringing Gary Tight on February 3.
Brian Samaita (Award-winning musician and philanthropist)
We are ready to unleash the muchawaited album.
There was a delay in releasing it last year after I was involved in a car accident that nearly claimed my life. We are also intensifying more regional shows as well as stepping a gear up in our philanthropic works.
Boniface Nyamanhindi (Show promoter and Club Mandisa director)
The year 2023 was eventful and we managed to host more than 50 artistes at our joint. We promise to continue from where we left and I am happy that more artistes, even established ones, are now starting to express their interests to work with us. We intend to host three shows every month, while the first week of every month will be dedicated to local artistes. We intend to nurture artistes and promote them as they build synergies with old and new fan bases. It is promising to be a brilliant year.
Clayton Masekesa (Musician, Journalist)
In 2024, my resolution is to release a full album around June.
I will also have videos for my music. I will be holding more local shows and perform in local venues in Mutare city, meeting my fans.
This year, I will perform in Botswana and South Africa towards the end of the year. I appreciate everything that the fans have done in supporting my music. 2024 will be the year of musical excellence.
Charlton Muchisi (Acid Bar director)
I am glad that I managed to fully construct the Acid Bar backyard before the end of last year. This year, we aim to hold live performances where we will be bringing our patrons’ favourite artistes to the once sleepy business centre at least once a month.
Taurai Moyo (Chenhaka Arts
Trust director)
My new year resolution is to create and increase programmes that will transform lives of Manicaland artistes and promote their livelihoods irrespective of gender, sex, tribe, race, colour and physical impairments. As Chenhaka Trust, our biggest achievement is to see a change of behaviour by artistes in running arts business and to make them become more versatile in an interconnected world and developing an understanding of how arts business forces shape global trends.
DJ Famous (Award-winning wheelspinner)
I wish to be a nationally-recognised wheel spinner and contest in national DJ cup clashes across the country. I intend to grow my brand outside Mutare, and I am happy that I have already set the ball rolling.
Karen Sakupwanya (Model)
I am working towards competing in the Miss Cultural Africa, scheduled to take place mid-year. I have also stepped up efforts on reaching out to communities through my philanthropic work. Starting this weekend, we will be handing over sanitary wear and other goodies to less-privileged children in Penhalonga and other areas.