IT has been a dark year for the local arts industry after it was robbed off some of its talented and seasoned entertainers.
The entertainment industry and nation at large was plunged into mourning after the death of music legend Zex Manatsa, theatre doyen Cont Mhlanga, hilarious actress Mai Sorobhi and dancehall singer Eckdodem, among others.
Arts promoters and stakeholders in the creative industry described the death of the artists as a void that would be hard to fill.
NewsDay Life & Style takes a look at some of the popular artists who are now with the angels in heaven. May their souls continue to rest in peace.
Cont Mhlanga
Veteran playwright, actor and founder of Amakhosi Theatre Productions, Cont Mhlanga breathed his last on August 1 at United Bulawayo Hospitals. He was 64.
The celebrated playwright, actor and theatre director succumbed to pneumonia and was buried in his rural home of Lupane, Matabeleland North province.
Mhlanga died a few weeks after he had been appointed a member of the team to create a national strategy for the Zimbabwe film sector.
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In recognition of his contribution to the creative industry both locally and on the international front, President Emmerson Mnangagwa granted him a State-assisted funeral.
His career in the cultural and creative industries began in 1982 when he formed Amakhosi which started as a youth karate club, but morphed to professional theatre in 1988.
Mhlanga wrote more than 20 plays, among them The Good President, The End, Sinjalo and Children on Fire.
He also adapted the popular play Stitsha into a television series and also produced Amakorokoza for ZBCtv.
His politically-charged play The Good President won him an Art Venture Freedom to Create award. He won the award out of nearly 1 000 entrants from 86 countries.
Mhlanga and Amakhosi Cultural Centre were awarded the Prince Claus award in December 2015, an accolade given in honour of Prince Claus of the Netherlands.
The denial of national hero status to an award-winning playwright who mentored a number of artists in dance, music, film and theatre, was described as an insult to his contribution to national development through the arts.
Zex Manatsa
Legendary musician, Zex Manatsa died on January 20 at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare from cancer (multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells) at the age of 78.
He was laid to rest at Warren Hills cemetery in Harare.
Government granted Manatsa a State-assisted funeral (a State-assisted funeral is an honour usually given to provincial heroes and heroines) despite calls for him to be declared a liberation war hero.
The musician-cum-pastor was famed for hit songs such as Chipo Chiroorwa, Tea Hobvu, Bambo Mwakwatila, Vaparidzi Vawanda and Mwana Waenda, among others.
Away from the microphone, Manatsa was renowned for attracting a 50 000 crowd to his wedding at Rufaro Stadium in 1979 in Mbare, Harare.
He was also part of the group of musicians who performed at the Independence Gala in 1980 alongside the late reggae icon, Bob Marley.
Manatsa was one of the recipients of the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) legends@40 Awards for his consistent contribution to the development of local music.
Mai Sorobhi
On September 11, the creative industry lost popular and veteran actress Mai Sorobhi who succumbed to a stroke at the age of 79.
Born Rhoda Mtembe, the yesteryear actress was buried at Warren Hills cemetery in Harare.
Mai Sorobhi featured in the early 1990s drama series Paraffin that made her a household name.
Before venturing into acting, she worked for the City of Harare as a health promoter at a clinic in Glen View. She then started acting in dramas that focused on child abuse, HIV and Aids.
The veteran actress featured in dramas such as Asi Chii Nhai, Mwana Anokosha, Paraffin 1 to 3, Jemanewadya, Chiri Mumusakasaka Chinozvinzwira, Nhunzvatunzva and Nhambetambe Neupenyu.
Clive Chigubu
It was no laughing matter on April 27 when the man who used to make people laugh, award-winning stand-up comedian Clive Chigubu (31) succumbed to cancer of the lymphatic system.
In his career, Chigubu was credited for helping to form the Umahlekisa comedy club, along with fellow comedian Ntando Van Moyo.
Chigubu had started acting, while in high school when he formed what they called the Jeepers Makers with classmate and friend, Mayibongwe Sibanda in 2008.
Sylvester Mubayi
Veteran internationally-acclaimed member of the first-generation stone sculptors, Sylvester Mubayi (80) died last week on Tuesday at Citimed Hospital in Chitungwiza after a short illness.
He was buried in his rural home in Chihota, Mashonaland East province.
As one of the first generation of Zimbabwean stone sculptors to gain international exposure and acclaim, his works are flaunted in several world museums, galleries, public places and universities making his footprints forever remain embossed on the international arts scene, particularly stone carving.
Mubayi was a fountain of wisdom for both aspiring and practising professionals in the visual arts sector.
In 1991, Mubayi was listed as one of the top 10 sculptors in the world by the United Kingdom’s Guardian newspaper.
The revered artist made history in 2017 by being the first local artist to participate at the 57th Venice Biennale where his works were curated by Raphael Chikukwa the current executive director of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe.
Eckdodem
The resort town of Kariba in June lost a talented dancehall singer Eckdodem, born Edgar Koffi who was credited with bringing Zimdancehall to the resort town.
The 25-year-old singer died at Kariba Hospital after a short illness and was buried at John Range cemetery in Kariba. At the time of his death, Eckdodem, who shot to stardom in 2013, was trending with latest offering, Mulishani.
