ARTS promoter DAB III Events held its inaugural township conference to tackle issues faced by artists in high-density areas.
The Mzilikazi Arts Indaba, which took place at Mzilikazi Arts and Craft Centre in Bulawayo, attracted both youthful and senior residents.
Speaking on the sidelines of the lengthy engagement, DAB III marketing manager Archford Hadebe said there was need to bridge the gap between artists and the community.
“The whole point of this basically is to close the gap between the community and its artists. So from what we gathered here today, there is a serious lack of quality in productions,” he said.
“The talent is there, but they seem to fail to market themselves because most of them are not known within the very community they come from.”
He added: “We did an Ikasi to Ikasi talent search and the numbers that came through from Mzilikazi made us want to return and touch base with the parents.
“We wanted to find out if they know how much their children are invested in arts. This is one of the top townships to have given us prominent actors, singers and even soccer stars. We had today, as you saw, legendary actor Memory Kumbota, who is also from here.”
Asked what the solution will be to the cries of the artists about lack of exposure, Hadebe said they provided a platform for their artists.
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“Now that we hear the people, as DAB, we are always taking everything we do to the people,” he said.
Bulawayo deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu, who is also the councillor for ward 8, urged the community to support youths in the arts industry.
“As council, we support by providing infrastructure, especially here in my ward. We have Mzilikazi Youth Centre, Mthwakazi Youth Centre and Mcdonald and Thorngrove halls,” he said.
“We urge parents to support their children in the arts. The corporate world is encouraged to financially support the arts industry.
“It is not only entertainment, but an employment industry as well which endeavours to remove our children from the streets and drug and substance abuse.”
