Appreciate Arts industry

Lazarus Sauti

Zimbabwe should take a leaf from Southern African Community Development countries such as South Africa and Zambia where arts receive attention from the government. This means that our government should take the arts industry seriously as it had become a form of employment to many youths in the country. Best Masinire, lead vocalist for LICAFA, an upcoming jazz outfit believes that the time is now for the government to give priority to arts development.

Masinire says: “The government should invest heavily in arts because the art sector has a capacity to create employment for youths. Also, government official should fully participate in the activities as a strategy to raise awareness to the public and other partners on how critical arts industry is in national development.”

The industry is suffering because many people in this country do not appreciate the creative industry. “Our society lacks a broader understanding of the role of arts in the recovery of our economy; it tends to forget that artists as creative players are among the most reflective elements in the country,” notes Masinire, adding: “What we do, or do not do says a lot about the societies we represent. Artists are a product of their respective communities.”

The crooner attributed the lack of appreciation of the arts industry to a misguided belief that if one goes into arts, he or she is condemned to the life of a pauper. “Society labels artists and this stereotyping is not only affecting them but it is also hindering the growth of the sector. Sadly, few artists who are in the business are not fully supported. Thus, it is difficult to break new grounds in the arts field because there are no incentives,” Masinire notes.

He adds: “The belief that the arts industry is for hopeless people is crippling its development. In some developing countries and many developed countries, creative activities have provided opportunities to make and earn a living.” Masinire adds, “There are scores of people who have turned into millionaires through their focus, commitment and passion.”

Frankly, the creative industry holds the potential to generate money for practitioners to live a life of quality and help sustain families and communities. “Artists should be treated as entrepreneurs. All musicians and beyond should appreciate each other more and learn from this, how fragile our lives are and how we owe it to each other to look after each other,” explains Masinire.

For Zimbabweans to effectively appreciate arts, Masinire believes that the government should provide a platform for relevant art stakeholders to thrash out the issues to help change societal perception of the creative industries.

“The primary thing that the government should do is to untie the arts sector from the unequal yoking with both the education and sports sectors. The government should therefore appoint a minister who is directly responsible for addressing arts matters in the country,” says Masinire.

He adds: “Stakeholders in the arts fraternity should craft policies that regulate and protect artists and their creative works. Artists in Zimbabwe are not protected as compared to other countries in the Southern African Development Community region. For instance, piracy laws in Zimbabwe are not stiff.”
It is critical for the government, through private partnerships to facilitate for the construction of arts facilities and these facilities should be earmarked for the training and promotion of arts in the country.

Masinire also says artists should be serious about their work. They should start appreciating their works and be creative since Albert Einstein once said, “True art is characterised by an irresistible urge in the creative artist.”Artists should also change their mindset of competition and take a bold step in supporting each other. They should understand that arts preserve culture and artists are carriers of that culture.

To make an impact in society, artists should marry their arts side with the business side. They should invest in the sector and their education. “It only takes an educated artist to know that he or she is a brand. Furthermore, education can also improve motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork for artists.” Sadly, for most people, art is only valuable if other people say it is; and artists are only worthwhile if they are either rich or famous, or dead.

“For instance, people are making a lot of noise about how great Chioniso Maraire was but when she was alive, she was never treated like a mbira queen. At one stage, she was the opening act for Lira, a South African artists and honestly, she was not supposed to play a cameo role,” Masinire bemoans.

It is not a secret that people in other countries appreciate art and there is need for local people to do the same. More so, the government should strategies and use arts as a tool to reduce unemployment in this country.