Zimbabwe: Ministry Gives Artistes a Raw Deal
Opinion
Suddenly it is December again! Indeed time flies. With the blink of an eye, 2011 is already on its' back! It is now time to look back and reflect on the year.
Although it is the end of the year, we are still in mourning the deaths of many prominent artistes who left us in 2011.
We are aware that death is a part and parcel of life but the year 2011 saw too many devastating and unexpected deaths among musicians.
We lost a prominent musician and erstwhile DJ, Hilton Mambo, early this year, Khumbulani Chaka of Gakamoto Jumbo Stars, Khumbulani Gibson Magaya from the group Vabati Va Jehovha, Takunda Mafika of True Bantu fame, Clement Chinyama of Cool Nights Band, Adam Chisvo, Cephas Mashakada of the Muddy Face, then Tongai "Dhewa" Moyo.
As I write, Prince Tendai Mupfurutsa of Midnight Magic, who has been ill throughout the year and has been away for the past four months is still in China receiving medical treatment. It is a sad year indeed!
To mark the end of the year, on December 3, Oliver Mtukudzi, who also lost a son last year, brought the annual Pakare Paye Solo Festival to the people with the hope that it will lift the spirits of those musicians who are still alive.
This was held at the multimillion-dollar Sam Mtukudzi Conference Centre and featured solo artistes who included Watson Junior Chidzomba, Donald Kanyuchi, Josh Meck, Selmar Mtukudzi, Sulumani Chimbetu, Steve Makoni, Prudence Katomeni-Mbofana, Fungisayi Zvakavapano-Mashavave, Edith We- Utonga-Katiji, Munya Mataruse, Tendai Manatsa and Freddie "Kapfupi" Manjalima.
No doubt Oliver Mtukudzi is giving back to the community by supporting and encouraging young people to realise their dreams. The people of Norton in particular are lucky to have Oliver in their midst.
The show proved that Zimbabwe has got lots of talent, and its sponsors, Tuku Music, Daisy's Kitchen, Culture Fund, Jazz 105, NewsDay, Sida and Spar understood the need to invest in the arts.
Zimbabwe Africa Literature - News
Artwork for documentary film 'Tapestries of Hope' by filmmaker Michealene Cristini Risley depicts the experience of girl children who face sexual violence in Zimbabwe. Image: Tapestries of Hope (WNN) ZIMBABWE, Africa: Three-year-old Runyararo screams
all other arts sub-sectors of literature, dance, theatre, music, visual arts, film and television production. How does any responsible arts and cultural administrator in a culturally diverse country such as Zimbabwe justify such a wayward decision?
Speakers from both the academic and political sphere led seven panel discussions on topics including the Arab Spring, foreign intervention in Africa and the prospects for peace in Darfur, South Sudan and Zimbabwe. Professor of Africana Studies Chinua
Key works cited repeatedly in the social science and policy literature constructed a hypersexualized pan-African culture as the main reason for the high prevalence of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa." Still, culture influences behavior and behavior
And in Zimbabwe recently, the opposition press reprinted Animal Farm as a satire on Mugabe and that's also, that for us in this country it's not a small example, it's an important one." "He (Orwell) was in a certain way, incorruptible, a lot of people
