Mzembi calls for Zollywood

By The NewsDay | Sep. 19, 2011 | 2 Min read

Tourism minister Walter Mzembi has underscored the need for Zimbabwe to have its own internationally-recognised music and arts industry. Speaking to Midlands State University students at the weekend, Mzembi said: “Just like America’s Hollywood, India’s Bollywood as well as Nollywood of Nigeria, Zimbabwe should have its own Zollywood because there is no doubt that our […]

Tourism minister Walter Mzembi has underscored the need for Zimbabwe to have its own internationally-recognised music and arts industry.

Speaking to Midlands State University students at the weekend, Mzembi said: “Just like America’s Hollywood, India’s Bollywood as well as Nollywood of Nigeria, Zimbabwe should have its own Zollywood because there is no doubt that our artists are now of international standards,” said Mzembi.

Mzembi is expected to meet experts from Hollywood to discuss issues to do with strengthening the nation’s art and music industries.

The uniqueness of arts and culture is about the ability to sell the idea to other nations and continents as well as other cultures thereby creating opportunities to boost the tourism sector in Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe is so blessed in the arts and music industries with a lot of talent in the likes of Alexio Kawara Winky D, Stunner, Mbira DzeNharira and Alick Macheso, among others,” added Mzembi.

Mzembi spoke of diverging from the colonial master’s culture and language in particular, so as to preserve uniqueness of the nation’s culture, thus raising a sense of awareness of Zimbabwean culture by international visitors.

“Zimbabweans should be able to define literacy according to their own culture, not expressing it in English and it is now the right time the young generation should be aware of other international languages, ” added Mzembi.

“The issue of language has also corrupted us so that if we are not careful with the interracial marriages as well, we may end up having Shona being extinct in the next years to come.”