UNITED KINGDOM-BASED Zimbabwean actress, dancer and choreographer Enisia Mashusha has applauded Zimdancehall chanters Winky D and Tocky Vibes for their compositions which relate to the country’s current state of affairs.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
Winky D and Tocky Vibes have come under attack for their latest songs Parliament, Kasong Kejecha and Zvitori Nani, which Zanu PF activists perceived as anti-government.
Mashusha, the founder of the all-female dance troupe Mambokadzi, said government should create an environment in which artistes could work without intimidation or fear.
“I would like to applaud my fellow artistes Winky D and Tocky Vibes for being courageous and standing out firmly in being the voice, not only for us artists, but the general populace as well. We must not be victimised over our works of arts,” she said.
“Artists must be free to express themselves than to be forced into self-censorship, which, therefore, limits our creativity.”
She said it had become the norm in Zimbabwe that artistes could not even express themselves because of fear of reprisal.
“Everything we laboured for is going down the drain. We, as artistes, have struggled over the years not only to better our lives, but to put our country, Zimbabwe, on the map, but to no avail,” she said.
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Mashusha said the window of hope through the new dispensation led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa was slowly fading, as disgruntled voices were being treated as enemies of the State.
“Almost everyone, including us as artists, had so much hope in the new dispensation that things were heading for the better, but it has increasingly become transparent that our leaders always turn left when indicating right,” she said.
Mashusha said it was high time artists stood up and used their God-given talents to voice, not only their concerns, but of every Zimbabwean in dire need of a better future.
Winky D was forced to cancel a show in Kadoma following a nasty encounter with a vigilante group in Kwekwe, while Tocky Vibe’s wife was reportedly assaulted over the musician’s latest song, Zvitori Nani.
