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NewsDay

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Poor govt policy hinders talent search, nurturing

Life & Style
PRUDENCE Katomeni-Mbofana, Tendai “Sasa” Chidarikire and Matthew “Mateo” Kaunda are among some of the products that first broke into the limelight when they participated in the early 90s talent search television show StarBrite.

PRUDENCE Katomeni-Mbofana, Tendai “Sasa” Chidarikire and Matthew “Mateo” Kaunda are among some of the products that first broke into the limelight when they participated in the early 90s talent search television show StarBrite. LIZZY KUTYAURIPO OWN CORRESPONDENT

After StarBrite, another talent search show the CBZ A Academy emerged in the early 2000 era.

Jonah Sithole was the inaugural winner of the show and got a recording deal and released an album that flopped the following year before going into oblivion.

The academy lasted for three years before running out of sponsorship. Some of the participants that had taken part in the then ongoing CBZ A Academy also got the chance to battle it out at Idols Africa. A number of Zimbabweans took part in the show and dominated in the top 15 throughout to the finals and Bulawayo-based Andrew Moyo emerged the overall winner.

Other musicians that broke into the limelight after being identified at Idols Africa are Ammara Brown and Adiona Maboreke Over the years a number of talent search shows such as Zim’s Got Talent andTione Chipo Chako have surfaced, but with nothing to show for it.

In some instances, the winners have failed to record even a single. This has mainly been caused by poor government policies for the arts sector in the country.

In turn, this has seen a lack of appreciation in scouting and nurturing of talent.

This has been a huge blow to many as the arts has remained an undervalued industry.

The arts industry lacks sponsorship from the government despite the fact that a number of emerging or long-time artistes have helped raise the country’s flag high.

Former Small House Saga actor Takunda Mafunda, aka T Kay, also spoke about how as artistes they are let down by their own government when they are marketing the country through arts.

“First and foremost, the government must recognise the arts sector as an industry and create sustainable budgets that fund the sector. As it stands, we as artistes are not being recognised and as such most artistes are struggling to earn a living through arts,” he said.

“Artistes play a pivotal role in shaping and influencing societal behaviour and promotion of cultural tourism, hence the need for us to be taken seriously. When touring other countries, artistes are sponsored by their embassies which means their respective governments sponsor them, but we get nothing from the government.

“This is very disheartening as we will not be conducting our tours in individual capacities, but as Zimbabweans. Does that not call for government support?”

Treasury has just allocated a $35 000 budget to the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe for 2015, understandably it explains the economic woes faced in the country, but the broader picture is no one cares about an artiste and arts activities outside mere entertainment.

Imbongi arts director Albert Nyathi suggested that it is time both people and government started appreciating arts and not take it for granted so as to get recognition from the government.

“The government should seriously consider funding the arts sector adequately. It is a sector that has been for a long time thought to be charitable and therefore needing donor sympathy. This has made the government relax,” he said.