Some artists from Gweru came to witness the event, which was an important platform for sharing ideas concerning the arts industry.Principal director in the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Reverend Paul Bayethe Damasane shared a few ideas with artists while jazz songstress Dudu Manhenga, who is also a board member of National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, also shared her experiences as an artist and encouraged others to take a cue from professional artists.
The information shared was important and the performances staged, especially from school children, were fantastic. But something was apparently wrong with everything about the launch and the whole week. It was a national launch and one would expect serious cultural organisations and practitioners to grace the event.
A week of cultural celebrations, which comes only once a year to reflect cultural activities that take place around us everyday, is not a small event. We have had national music galas, which have been well-marketed and even screened live on national television. We have had festivals that attracted internationally renowned artists and hordes of foreign fans. There have been renowned exhibitions that were opened by revered individuals in diplomatic circles and attended by the who-is-who is arts circles. Arts awards have come in various forms and sizes and the nation has been made aware of these events in all means possible while attendance has always been commendable.
All these occasions and events fall under arts and culture. They are part of what is celebrated during Culture Week. The week-long celebrations seek to bring together artists and arts fans from across genre divides in a week of serious meditation, planning and celebration. The week, by this nature, should be more important than all the other events because this is the time when celebrations are held across the country at once in honour of our heritage in arts and culture.
But, if the truth has to be told, this event is viewed with the least level of seriousness inasmuch as celebratory occasions are concerned. It baffles to see that arts promoters, popular artists and renowned arts institutions distance themselves from Culture Week.
Of course there are various institutions that host events during this week but, if one was to ask anyone in the street what they understood about Culture Week and any events that they have witnessed, the answers are most likely to be negative — disappointing.
A number of arts critics have always complained that the various ministries they fall into are not addressing serious issues about arts and culture. Honestly, how do you expect the ministries to take you seriously when you do not take yourselves seriously? Culture Week should be a time that rings loud bells in all those involved in the arts and culture sector.
It should be a time when everyone in this sector should be putting their best effort to be heard and known. It has to be a time when promoters should be willing to organise shows for free and artists ready to play without returns in celebration of what generates their income day in day out.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
It should be a momentous event that erupts with a wild bang spontaneously across the country. It has to be a time that even the many artists that have relocated to other parts of the world are prepared to come back to their grassroots and celebrate with their kinsmen.During the Culture Week, art is not supposed to be about money. It has to be about rising and showing the world that we are proud of our creativity. It should be a week of serious fun and enjoyment.
Feedback: [email protected]
