By Style Reporter
African roots musician, sculptor-cum-businessman Bryn Taurai Mteki says his involvement in politics will not impede his arts career as he has lined up a number of arts projects this year.
Popularly known as Sekurutau, Mteki surprised all and sundry when he threw his hat into the ring for the July 31, 2018 presidential election as an Independent candidate.
However, he did not fare well in the election that had 21 other candidates vying for the presidency garnering 2 747 votes that translated to 0,1% of the vote. He later became part of the Political Actors Dialogue before rejoining Zanu PF last month.
He said despite all these political engagements, he had not turned his back on his passion, arts, particularly sculpture.
“There is an arts project which I’m preparing which would be a one-man exhibition this year and we have got other exhibitions coming up in Los Angeles and Germany,” Mteki told Standard Style in an exclusive interview.
A son of renowned sculptor Richard Mteki, Sekurutau, who mesmerised the local music scene following the release of the song Norah, a duet he did with the late Zanu PF commissar Elliot Manyika, said he was still in the game.
“People are putting pressure on me to release an album where there is a song that features Phillip Chiyangwa and Koffi Olomide and it’s something I am looking into,” he said.
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“I will not reveal the dates of release, but I am saying to my fans I am still in music and it’s only matter of priorities happening now.
“However, I am concerned about piracy which continues to cripple the arts sector and a solution should be found within the system so that we avert the problem.”
With a plethora of stone works dotted around the world, Mteki said he would up his game as far as sculpture was concerned.
“I am moving to another level where I am working on corporate sculptures for a number of organisations which I am not a position to to divulge their names,” he said.
“This year is going to be a busy one for the arts sector and personally I am going to push to other levels in terms of regional and international exhibitions.”
The sculptor-cum businessman challenged the government to come up with policies that promote the arts sector in the country, arguing that arts was a potential foreign currency earner.
“Government should take arts seriously when it comes to foreign currency earning. Zimbabwe sculpture dominates globally, so we need to put up structures that help harness foreign currency through our sculptures and traditional music instruments,” he said.
Sekurutau spent close to 16 years in Europe and the United States, taking part in international exhibitions. His array of artwork is showcased in a number of foreign countries, including South Africa, US and Germany.
“If properly coordinated, arts can be second to gold in terms of bringing foreign currency. As a politician I will advocate for laws and policies that promote the sale of our arts products and harnessing forex via different exhibitions through the use of our embassies scattered across the world,” he said.
“The sculpture industry is one sector that brings a lot of tourists into the country, therefore there is need to revamp arts centres and national heritage sites.”
Apart from music and sculpture, Sekurutau is a businessman and founder of BrynBrands with interests in retail supermarkets, bottle stores, night clubs, real estate, butcheries and takeaways. He also operates a transport business, mining and a clothing line, among others.
Mteki said he rejoined Zanu PF with the hope of developing the country as a united force.
