THE AVExpo has been described as a uniting platform for the media and the creative sector-based industries, with indications that the event is earmarked for greater success in the future.
Speaking at the event held recently, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services deputy minister Omphile Marupi, who was the guest of honour, brought to light that audio visual industries are much more than the mere transmission of sound, they allow storytelling, cultural connection and amplify diverse voices which allow unity in diversity.
“Advances in audio visual technologies have revolutionised education and entertainment and engagement in a way that was unimaginable some years ago. We are witnessing a surge in streaming platforms and on demand content,” he noted.
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe director Napoleon Nyanhi said Zimbabwe was a land-linked country and was strategically positioned to host many festivals in the future.
He hailed the AVExpo as the beginning of many good things to come in the envisioned brighter future for the Zimbabwean arts and broadcasting industries.
Nyanhi described Marupi, who once headed Montrose Studios in Bulawayo, as a seasoned broadcaster whose entry to mainstream politics has helped in the improvement of conditions in the media and arts industry.
Mbaki Nleya, the director for Audio Academy and founder of the AVExpo, said AVExpo was founded through a desire to bring together consumers, manufacturers and distributors of sound systems and broadcast equipment so that there was harmony among policymakers and stakeholders.
Nleya said facilitation of knowledge transfer through the Audio Academy was driven by the desire to empower the youth with hands-on experience, which, in turn, resulted in improvement to every occasion.
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“We sent out invitations to everyone and the people here present are those who responded. We are looking for more participants from our local and regional manufacturers and distributors of sound systems and broadcast equipment,” he said.
“There is still a lot which has to be done in the industry and we wish to address the skills gap first through provision of relevant trainings.
“We also realised with concern that most of the equipment is still being sold beyond the reach of many and we, therefore, call for the standardisation of prices.”
The event closed with an awards ceremony, where outstanding audio visual companies were awarded certificates of recognition.
European Audio Visual companies like LAWO from Germany, Riedel (Germany), Prosound (South Africa), AxelTech (Italy), Lupane State University (Zimbabwe), Sound Stage Africa (Zimbabwe) and Crossline (Zimbabwe) exhibited and made demonstrations on their radio and television broadcast equipment and sound systems.
Ralf Schimmel from LAWO said his company was at the forefront of radio and television systems which depended on very efficient servers for storage and transmission.
LAWO is a regular brand that broadcasts the Olympic Games and World Cup games.
Several local and foreign exhibitors and award winners hailed the AVExpo as a new beginning in the availability of audio visual systems in Zimbabwe.
Nleya urged the exhibitors to avail sponsorship in the form of equipment to award winners at the next edition of the AVExpo.
