TECHNOLOGY and Courier Services minister Supa Mandiwanzira has urged local artistes to embrace information communication technology (ICT) to promote and market their works.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
Mandiwanzira made the remarks while speaking at dendera ace Sulumani Chimbetu’s National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) Victory Party organised by Devine Assignments on Wednesday at Richwood Garden and Sports Bar, Mabelreign, Harare.
“My ministry will soon engage the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture to enable artistes to actively embrace technology such as online platform for music sales for them to have other ways of getting revenue from music sales,” Mandiwanzira said.
“Artistes should be able to market their music online that would see them earning commission off each download purchased from the site,” he said. Mandiwanzira challenged local promoters to have faith in local talent rather than giving much preference to foreign acts.
“As Zimbabweans let’s have faith in our artistes and give them the much-needed support to develop their careers,” he said.
“Arts and Culture deputy minister Tabitha Malinga-Kanengoni you have to see whether it is essential for foreign artistes to come and perform here.” Online media platforms are increasingly becoming an important tool for many artistes on the global arena.
If local artistes are keen to embrace the initiative, it is likely to bring smiles to many musicians who have been outdone with piracy as there has been no clue as yet on how to eliminate it.
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In August last year, a local music management and marketing company Jive Zimbabwe launched a music store as a way of embracing technology towards developing the arts sector.
Kanengoni-Malinga said local artistes must be original and not be copycats of foreign artistes.
The party was graced by various stakeholders that included promoters, fans and National Arts Council of Zimbabwe officials among them Nicholas Moyo and Elvas Mare who joined Sulu’s to celebrate his achievement.
Sulu was celebrating his recent Nama Outstanding Male Musician award.
As expected the best moment of the night was when Jah Prayzah joined Sulu on stage to perform their duet Sean Timba evidenced by pushing and shoving in the audience as fans drew closer to the stage when the Tsviriyo singer jumped onto the stage.
Sulu’s public relations manager Joe Nyamungoma thanked fans who graced the event for the support in building the dendera brand.
“We want to salute our fans for their support that results in the joy that we are experiencing,” said Nyamungoma.
