A FEW minutes before midnight, seven-year-old Natasha (not real name) was in tears backstage. Her mother had vanished in the huge crowd at the recent Mutangaz Hideout braai festival.
BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA
Some other children, probably making up half the crowd, were still milling around and visibly drunk patrons insulted the young girl who could not locate her mother.
Losing children at big shows is not a major thing, but of late, the trend has become common at family shows that spill into the night despite having been advertised as day programmes, where adults and children mix and mingle.
Award-winning promoter, Daniel Masaiti, explained the concept behind family shows.
“The idea of a family show is to offer parents an opportunity to come together with their children so that they get to see their celebrities or musicians in live performances,” he said.
“However, it is disheartening that most family shows have lost meaning as they are now being held during night. It is not good for the kids as they are exposed to unruly behaviour and will be forced to admire bad things at a young age.”
This paper has observed that some of the artistes do perform raunchy dances at the same time using obscene language in the presence of the children.
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During the December 3 braai festival held at Mutangaz, comedian-cum-dancer David Machowa, affectionately known as Apama, exhibited dirty and raunchy dance moves while speaking vulgar language at the family show.
“Entertainment cannot have limited time, it can go up late. If the parents are comfortable having their children by that time, then there is no problem,” he said.
Harare-based arts commentator Chamunorwa Mashoko said it was only in the 1980s when shows were accommodative and suitable for the family set-up.
“In the 80s, most shows were held during the day and were accommodative and suitable for family. However, there has been a shift, but I am not sure why. Most shows are now generally held at night,” he said.
“The content depends on the show, but keeping kids until late could be problematic as they should be safe in bed by the time the show ends. The king of family shows was the late Safirio Madzikatire, and his events never went beyond six o’clock in the evening.”
Mashoko said if the show’s content was not suitable for minors it could have a negative impact.
The Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children said there was need for hosts of family shows to put in place child safeguarding measures in place.
“It is critical for organisers to make sure that the shows do not go beyond the usual times that children should be out in public spaces, censor the content and make sure that alcoholic and intoxicating substances are not made available to any person below the age of 18,” he said.
Murungweni added that the presence of the police and social workers at these functions was crucial.
The Global Status Report on Alcohol (2004) ranked Zimbabwe at number 12 on the list of top beer-drinking nations in Africa with per capita consumption of alcohol pegged at 5,08 litres per year against an continental average 4 litres.
Bar age limits are a thing of the past as bar tenders are selling liquor to anyone with money regardless of age.
Arts critic Plot Mhako said it was a pity that family shows are fast losing their essence and added that artistes were failing to observe the nature of the audience.
“Family shows are fast losing their essence. Ideally, the events are meant to be family in timing, content and language, but we have seen is contrary. Promoters seem to be trying to maximise on gate takings and beverage sales by starting and ending the events late, which is starting to have a negative impact on the numbers as some families now tend to shun such events,” he said.
He also said it was worrying that artistes often failed to observe the nature of the audience at family shows by singing in profane language and engaging in sexually suggestive dances.
