Shangano empowers women

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SHANGANO ARTS TRUST has embarked on a programme to empower women in the arts industry to get into leadership roles in Matabeleland North province.
Women have always played second fiddle to men when it comes to leadership in the arts sector

BY SHARON SIBINDI

SHANGANO ARTS TRUST has embarked on a programme to empower women in the arts industry to get into leadership roles in Matabeleland North province.

This was after an eye-opener tour of southern Africa in which Shangano Arts Trust director Petros Ndlovu was impressed by the leadership roles taken by women in countries he toured.

More often, women artistes have complained that arts promoters have been overlooking them as compared to their male counterparts when it comes to promoting their activities and arts products.

“Shangano Arts Trust has noted that in Matabeleland North province, all leaders of the arts groups are men, the people who are organising events are men, hence we want to empower women artistes to take leadership roles in the arts and culture industry,” Ndlovu said.

“My wish is to see women as equal to men and I have been travelling around southern Africa where I saw women doing well in the arts, including other sectors. I then said I need to try it back home.”

Ndlovu said he had started on the programme where he partnered with other women in the arts sector in spreading the initiative.

“I have been working with other women and associations like Mantate and Great Residents Association. These have pushed me to work hard as they are passionate on women issues,” he said.

“We have covered Victoria Falls women artistes and we will have a workshop in August. The exercise was successful, thanks to our local MP Geoffrey Dube, including other members who assisted.”

Ndlovu said during the meetings, women raised issues such as not being given a chance to lead and also not being recognised.

“The women said they are not given any opportunity to lead, they raised issues of abuse in the arts industry and also said they lack knowledge on how to raise such issues. We will empower the women with skills and give them leadership roles in all our groups and programmes and push them to be independent,” he added. Ndlovu said the move would bring a different mindset with the way the society has viewed women in the arts industry.

“This will help the society change mindsets through the discussions,” he said.

“Women need to be confident and need to start taking or viewing arts as a business. It’s high time they became self-sustainable both in short and long-term goals.

“So far the women have shown interest, they feel honoured and they are receiving it well. They have said this has become an eye-opener to them.”

Recently, Winners Circle founder Samkeliso Tshuma challenged women in the arts industry to take advantage of opportunities presented to them to showcase their skills and talents as a way of enhancing their careers.