Wishes, hopes and fears: Artistes speak on 2021

Standard Style
By Kennedy Nyavaya/Sharon Sibindi/Tafadzwa Kachiko Artistes across the spectrum agree that last year was one hell of a rollercoaster ride and as we enter the new year most are hopeful that it can only get better. A huge part of 2020 went by while the world was gripped with constant efforts to survive the raging […]

By Kennedy Nyavaya/Sharon Sibindi/Tafadzwa Kachiko

Artistes across the spectrum agree that last year was one hell of a rollercoaster ride and as we enter the new year most are hopeful that it can only get better.

A huge part of 2020 went by while the world was gripped with constant efforts to survive the raging Covid-19 pandemic that has claimed the lives of millions across the globe and hundreds locally.

Most artistic work had to go online and the less innovative found themselves losing both relevance and income streams. With much of the world, particularly the African continent, still to gain access to the Covid-19 vaccines, it would appear that the most important thing for artistes, apart from staying alive, is to find ways of earning significantly with restrictions against crowding in place.

Standard Style got in contact with some creatives who revealed their wishes, fears and hopes about the new year.

“I wish everything normalises and, we go back to our hustles. even if we do not completely go back to normal, but under that new reality brought by Covid-19 you can only wish for the virus to recede,” says comic Doc Vikela.

Comedy remained one of the most active art genres even with stringent lockdown regulations in place and, according to Vikela, who gained more popularity for his parody of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, it was a result of being inventive online although there is room for growth.

“Hopefully the year brings the growth of comedy because last year was a steady year for comedy, now we hope that we grow, using different mediums and we also yearn for live comedy shows because the human audience effect is important,” he said.

“As Simuka Comedy, we promise that we will continue to bring out content, entertaining the people just to make sure that despite the difficult conditions around us, we are together in this and we will try to use what we can, which is humour to try and push awareness.”

For songstress Diana Samkange, the year must bring a respectable representative organisation for musicians’ voices and opinions to be heard by “the relevant ministry and the government at large”.

“My hopes, which are that when that (creation of a recognised union for musicians) is implemented, we also as entertainers start to get accepted on many development facilities given to other industries in the country, for example, opening banks, shop accounts, loan facilities among other benefits,” said Samkange.

The Kumagumo Erudo hit maker said she feared that without support, especially from the government, many singers would not survive as they live directly from their art.

“With how the world is looking at the moment, we are in tough times and in our industry as musicians, our operation is highly threatened. I am one of the few lucky ones to have agriculture as a side business, but what of my fellow music colleagues?” she queried.

“It is my hope and I trust the government is working flat out to at least give us a hand for survival.”

Not much happened in the modelling world last year and former Miss Tourism as well as Zimbabwe’s 2020 representative at the Miss Africa Calabar beauty pageant Ashley Morgen appeared less expectant about the new year.

“The world is a mess right now with so much fear for our health and uncertainty. I just want to stay safe (because) health is wealth, take each day as it comes and pray for a new clear path during the rough times,” said Morgen.

Meanwhile, rising music and dance promoter and Bingu Village Studios (BVS) boss Tinei Notis Mazura, aka Boss Bingu, appealed for more established institutions and donors to assist up-and-coming hubs like theirs to stand in the hard times.

“As many may have noticed, we have been growing over the years and last year was not an exception as seen even through the kind of talent we have nurtured, but it is not easy when you are small like BVS,” said Boss Bingu.

“The pandemic did not make it any easier, but if established institutions, corporate and government extend some help we will survive this storm and when we do we will continue to uplift talent in the ghetto to avert vices like drug abuse that are rife because of youth idleness.”

With the year still in its infancy, it is hard to predict how it will turn out especially considering that the dreaded Covid-19 is still wreaking havoc across the globe, but showbiz will have to proceed and artistes are prepared for the worst but still praying for the best.

Bulawayo model Lesley Mpofu told Standard Style that this year he is looking forward to expanding his brand and collaborations.

“2020 was definitely a tough year for all creatives, however, what makes us creatives is our ability to adapt to situations. We don’t know what 2021 will bring, but we have to be hopeful that things will be much better. In terms of my career, I would like to expand my brand by exploring more by means of working with different brands and travelling,” Mpofu said.

“I also want to collaborate with other creatives because I believe that the creative space is one that survives on creative synergy – so the coming together of creatives to produce amazing content through their creative expertise.”

Songstress Nkwali said she is hoping for live performances this year and promoting her brand.

“I am hoping this year will be better than 2020, especially now that a vaccine has been found,” Nkwali said

“I hope to do live performances with a live audience though I am already taking advantage of social media to promote my brand and my latest album Themba which i launched two weeks ago. The album is now available online.”

Iyasa founder Nkululeko Dube said they are looking forward to recruiting new artistes who will be the class of 2021.

“For us 2021 will be a year of adjustment to the new normal. We have several songs and videos that we will release in the first phase of the year. We look forward to being innovative so as to survive the difficult challenges brought about by Covid-19,” Dube said.

“We also want to empower more artistes we work with in their individual and solo projects. We are apprehensive about 2021. It will be a year in which I think the real effects of the pandemic will be felt and therefore it’s up to us as a collective to come up with new creative ways to survive beyond that year.”

Lorraine Stot-Maplanka said she would start with a single, a tribute song which she recorded in honour of her late mother —Sithokozile Maplanka.

“The song was written by her, it features her younger sister, my aunt Ntombizodwa Gumbo, and my little sister Le-Andra Maplanka Ncube.

“After I release the single, I will get into the studio to record my second album and hopefully do some live shows because I believe we are going to beat the pandemic,”she said.

Victory Siyanqoba director, poet and activist Desire Moyo, aka Moyoxide, decribed 2021 as a year of acceleration and milestones.

“I am releasing my fourth album titled Zeroism in April. I am taking my work to online stores and I am hitting hard on social and political parasites,” Moyoxide said.

“I am building the Moyoxide Ideations brand also into the film industry and taking my 2020 theatre smasher Bhalagwe is Burning to another level. Victory Siyanqoba has all it’s 2021 strategic plan ready for rollout in the new normal. 2021 is going to be a year of more action and less talk. Watch out Eziko Theatre Laboratory kicking off at its traditional venue this month,” he said.

Bulawayo dancer-cum-songbird Sandra “Sandy” Ndebele-Sibindi said she was looking forward to her international collaborations.

“Corona is in control. If God is willing, I will be able to fulfil my international collaborations,” Sandy said.

Shangano Arts Trust executive producer Petros Ndhlovu said: “We will be having quarterly events at Hwange Little Theatre, and I will be partnering with Savana Trust in awareness campaign to reduce wildlife crimes in the communities surrounding Hwange National Park. Then we will hold the annual Shangano 15th edition in November 2021,” Ndhlovu.

Dancer Blessing Nomthandazo Sibanda, aka Stoxie, said she was looking forward to explore different markets and audiences regionally.

“My mid-year projection on this endeavour is to begin working with the South African performers as well as conducting my own solo performances in Zimbabwe and South Africa. I am also working on diversifying my art to suit different audiences and incorporate different forms of arts,” Sibanda said.

“I would also love to work with the aspiring artistes giving me advice and mentoring because this path is not so easy, 2020 was a tough year, but I am so proud that I won the Best Outstanding Dancer Award in the PRACA Awards 2020 on December 19.”

Nkue Nkala said art must go on, the hope is that Covid-19 will be kinder such that the whole industry is open.

“For now the plan is to do all the events we did last year both hybrid and virtual. But also plan around doing a few new things,” Nkala said.

Victory Siyanqoba gender officer Ester Excellia Zitha they were still planning for the year as some of the activities are still to be finalised.

“We are still on with our usual programmes like Laundry Cafés, which are women’s platforms and Eziko Theatre Laboratory which is an artistes’ platform. We are looking forward to have some activities which are not yet finalised,” she said.

Simon Mambazo Phiri said: “After 2020 it is difficult to predict anything.”

Founder of One Spirit Nigel Tatenda Nyamweda said apart from production works, Vocal Mufasa is opening an online music academy this year and the launch is yet to be advised.

“Vocal Mufasa is doing a number of productions similar to the Bulawayo Sibambene production,” Nyamweda said.

“Well we will release an EP which will feature the following: Mimmie Tarukwana, Carlos Jiri, Msizkay, Novuyo Seagirl and so many more, coming together to make a beautiful production of hope and encouragement. We are hoping to also have a production which will feature JPC, FIG Worship Culture and One Spirit,” he said. DJ Mzoe said: “2021 has plenty, bigger and super Hololos! I am looking forward to that.”

Amanda Grace said “I am working on a studio album featuring artistes from within Zimbabwe and outside.”

Bulawayo male model Ben Chest said he would be representing Zimbabwe in Mr Africa to be held in Ghana in September.

“I am preparing myself and also looking to get sponsors that will help me achieve that dream. there are about 16-20 countries that I will be contesting against for Mr Africa in Ghana,” Chest said.

Renowned theatre practioner Charles Munganasa of the Charles Austin Theatre in Masvingo said he was working on a number of productions, including a play to be premiered in April.

“I am working on a play titled Two Zimbos One Dead Body that will premiere in April this year,” Munganasa said.

“It’s about how Zimbabweans die in South Africa and how their bodies are smuggled through the border in buses and trucks.

“It’s a story about dreams deferred and a nation in waiting. It mirrors the struggles faced by Zimbabweans in foreign lands. How they can’t get access to basic things like health care simply because they don’t possess proper immigration papers.

“It’s a story which takes us on a journey of emotions, cementing the need for the political leadership to fix the country so that husbands and wives, mothers and sons, fathers and daughter can be reunited whilst they are still alive.”

Filmmaker Shem Zemura was looking forward to a promising 2021 taking into consideration the coming-in of new television channels.

“2021 looks very promising. However, a lot will depend on the capacity of the new channels,” he said.

Zemura’s company Rain Media does post-production work for Mirazvo Productions.

“I have a few deals lined up. Brooke Triad with ZTN is now in post-production. Slay Queens is still in development (also for ZTN). I have three lifestyle magazines lined up for ZBC.

“Currently I am in talks with Rusununguko TV for a possible collaboration on The Keep, a movie based on the inhuman Rhodesia concentration camps during the Second Chimurenga.

“We have started work on three TV series — Tangled — a telenovela, The Past — the pilot is available on YouTube and Ndiwe Chete in preparation for the launch of the new channels.

“There is also collaboration in the pipeline with Joe Njagu, Eddie Ndlovu, Melgin Tafirenyika and Nakai Tsuro. It is going to be a year of collaborations for me, it’s the key to growth and making content with a global impact.

“Late last year I worked with Rooftop on their series Chipo – The Gift Season 2 set to screen this year, and collaborated with GlobalDNA on their reality series The Closure also set to screen this year.”

Award-winning playwright and arts administrator Raisedon Baya was pessimistic about 2021, but said if given the chance, he has something up his sleeves.

“Something new I am not sure. But I have a couple of projects lined up for this year and I hope they will come to fruition,” Baya said.

“As Intwasa there we are launching an anthology of short stories from our short story competition. We are publishing 14 stories that were part of the long list. This will be the first time we are having an anthology from our short stories. The anthology is supposed by OSISA.

“We are also launching a short documentary film about how female artistes were able to cope during the pandemic times in 2020. This is supported by the United States Embassy.