Midlands Sculptor Exhibits artistic prowess

Behind a sculptured metal bull adorning metal spectacles and putting on metal shoes stands a relaxed dread locked young man. His right hand resting on his exceptionally magnificent work of art. The young artistic is none other than Shurugwi born Coaster Mkoki. Through his artistic work, the young man has travelled to places. He has been to South Africa and the United Kingdom where his works scooped awards in Cape Town, Johannesburg and London.
His mission statement speaks volume about his artistic talent. “Through my work I wish to reflect the time behind and the time ahead. I create my art in response to the challenges of working in different places and environments”. As a sculptor, he familiarizes his work to the Stone Age paintings and believes that sculpture is a form of visual communication which is non-verbal but places strong emphasis to the society.
Sculpture can be traced as far back as the first attempt of pictographic communication that was used to convey an idea in Mesopotamia in about 350 BC. As a moulder the stone was a medium of mass communication since it involves drawing paintings and photographs that convey information that has political, social, economic and historical as well as religious connotations
In a face to face interview with Caven Masuku from Midlands State University, Mkoki shared his social background.
“I was born in the Midlands mining town of Shurugwi but grew up in Gweru’s Mkoba suburb. I worked at Zimbabwe Alloys as a fitter and turner for eleven years on a part time basis,” said Mkoki. I started my art gallery in 1993 and received two awards in 1995.
In addition, Mr. Mkoki worked as the co-coordinator of the 2007 Land Mark exhibition that was conducted at Gweru Military Museum. Coaster said that he started sculptor long back as a child.”I was born an artist and worked with Tapfuma Kiuts, a, my mentor who is now based in Austria,” he said.
As a brilliant sculptor who has exhibited beyond borders, Mkoki understands sculpture as creation and touch of things which can be admired. Mkoki told Caven masuku that he is inspired by God, who is the best creator ever to be witnessed.
“I am imitating what God has created through moulding works of art that can be emulated by society. The community benefits a lot from sculptures and Land Mark exhibition was supposed to be my soul exhibition. It creates life and helps the community by engaging them”
As a sculptor, Mkoki said they lacked financial backing and he had to use his money to facilitate the Land Mark exhibition.
Mkoki suggested that the school curriculum needs to be revisited, and artistic genre like drama and music does put more money as compared to sculpture. Art sculptor like Dominic Benhura who were mentored by Tapfuma Kiutsa, are highly contributors of the economic turnaround
Sculpture contributes immensely to our culture. It enables the use of hands as an icon or metaphor. Moses in the Bible used sculpture to build turbanacles. The Zimbabwe ruins, Egyptians Pyramids and Matopos are the work of sculptures. Mkoki perceives sculptor as a ruler that can elevate creativity, Inca in America, stone Hange in the United Kingdom. Cave paintings and sculptures are works that communicate effectively to the society. Behind every sculpture there is God who gave us the knowledge to imitate his works. National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) provides the sculptor in Gweru with moral support.
The sculpture industry kindly request the government to assist as they contribute immensely to the economic turnaround of the country. Mkoki said that it is disheartening that Gweru Civic centre has no sculpture artifacts as compared to Bulawayo and Harare. Sculpture has no boundaries; instead a sculptor has freedom to speak out his mind.
Mkoki said that they is a lot that needs to be done to promote arts and sculpture in Gweru. The Midlands province needs more shows and the corporate world to host art galleries.

An interview with Imbube Music group (Obert Tshabalala)

Obert Tshabalala (Tshaka) was born 53 years ago in Sogwala area (Lower-Gwelo) and currently resides in Mkoba 5 and is a fine singer endowed with yodeling skills that can cause the audience to recall their past and typical Ndebele songs sang in the mediaeval. Below are excerpts from a recent interview with Caven Masuku.

Q. TELL ME IN SHORT: WHO IS TSHABALALA?
A. My full name is Obert Tshabalala and was born in Lower- Gwelo in 1953, under chief Sogwala. Currently, my family is in Zhombe together with other Qaphela Voice sound member’s.

Q.HOW MANY ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP MAMBERS?
A. We are a group of 9 members. Am the leader myself: Obert Tshaka Tshabalala, in addition they is Elliot Tshabalala, Shadreck Maphosa, Ziphandele Moyo, Clay Ngwenya, Paul Jogwe, Mkhululi Tshabalala, Nkosana Mpofu and Smart Tshuma.

Q. WHEN DID YOU START SINGIN?
A. Yes thank you so much! Well I started singing when I was a boy but began getting serious in 1980, when I had to sing for ZAPU PF. Those were the day’s when I was in Bulawayo and singing was for political purposes which could move people to action.

Q.EVERY TALENT HAS AN INSPIRATION AND IN YOUR CASE, WHO INSPIRED YOU?
A. Actually they are so many people who inspired me to sing Imbube songs. My brother Misheck Tsane and Gerode Tsane are my aspirators especially in 1970, during war time there were countless occasions where they sang with me. Amabhubesi and Ihawu Lesizwe from South Africa are the other groups among to be mentioned that inspired me.

Q.FROM YOUR PERCEPTION WHAT IS IMBUBE MUSIC?
A. Imbube music is typical Ndebele songs that are sang using pure voice that has no mix with guitars or piano’s. This genre of music was sung in the past for political and social gatherings like wedding’s and meeting, when presiding over some issues in the community.

Q.WHAT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LIFE IN GENERAL DOES YOUR GENRE OF MUSIC IMPART TO THE COMMUNITY?
A. Imbube music imparts knowledge about the past, present and the future. It focuses on peoples problems that can be either political, social or entertainment. This type of music acts as a medicine that cleanses away evil spirits and perfect the society way of keeping up living standards.

Q.DOES YOUR MUSIC PROMOTES THE EXPERIENCES OF THE AUDIENCE?
A. Yes it does of course in various ways. It brands and blends knowledge and incites both the singer and the audience to share the feelings and to be in the same footing.

Q.ARE YOU GETTING ANY SUPPORT FROM NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL OF ZIMBABWE (NACZ)
A. Not really, but we are happy that they are making us famous and this in turn creates opportunities to mix with other singers. We would like to thank the previous ruling party of Zimbabwe, ZANU PF for the assistance they offered us sometime ago. They donated T-Shirts and other which amounted to a complete uniform kit for our group.NACZ assist us through Chibuku Road Fame, where we get awards for competing. But this has ceased for the past three years and by then we used to rehearse in places like Bulawayo, Mutare, Masvingo and Harare.

Q. HAVE YOU SHOWCASED EVER SINCE YOU STARTED SINGING?
A. Yeah! We have been moving around especially the entire Zhombe area. We have toured all schools in Zhombe and part of Lower-Gwelo like Dimbamiwa for the past three years.

Q . HOW TRUE IS THE ASSERTION THAT MUSIC IS ASSOCIATED WITH CULTURE?
A. That is very true in every sense. Like the Imbube music, as we sing we dance inquzu and sing in IsiNdebele proverbs and idioms, we whistle and ululate. At the moment we are looking for the traditional costume and will be happy if we find a helper. Basically all these reflect cultural aspects.

Q. WHAT ADVISE CAN YOU SHARE WITH OTHER ARTIST WHO ARE INTO SINGING LIKE YOU?
A. Youngster’s should dedicate themselves to their effort and unite. They should support each other and ovoid petty jealousy. This will elevate their zeal and make the UMthwakazi (nation) proud of their culture. They should not despise the traditional type of music in favour of Western Music. Our music is rich with local language adages, proverbs and idioms that can be used to chastise and castigate the bad conduct of the community members. Youngsters should use their voices to sing without instruments, since this at times can tarnish their quality voice.

Is Zimbabwe offering practical education?

Zimbabwe is one of the most respected countries not only in the Southern region but in Africa as a whole in term of educating its people. But the big question which everyone would want to ask is whether our education is a catalyst in turning the fortunes of the economic turn-around program.
Though the education system has commendably churned out academics of high caliber. It is the system’s re-oriented towards encouraging initiative and problem solving skills that has been in doubt. The current education system creates a job seeking mentality in individuals as they endeavor to be employed in the formal sector. Most graduates from various higher learning institutions are jobless and lack the drive to start their own business venture as employers. The challenge has been for graduates to use skills acquired from college to start self help projects and business enterprises.
Likewise there is need for the additional of” new impetus on the philosophy of educational sector for self reliance. Graduates should be incited to work hard, intelligently, with discipline and integrity”, says Pious Mnkandla. He added graduates should not be overwhelmed by today’s problems in finding lasting solutions for self-empowerment.
It is through education that individuals acquire suitable skills and knowledge to explore problems. They should not be caught unaware in the pool of mediocrity. All aspects under study have to be thoroughly dealt with both in theory and practice. This is supported by Plato’s philosophy of faith which say’: “ That we shall be better and brave and less helpless if we think that we ought to acquire, than we should have been if we indulged in the idle fancy that we do not know…” When I asked the public to comment on how practical our universities education is, this is was the response:
“Our education is too theoretic and lacks practice. Universities should be furnished with enough resources to equip students with practical skills and knowledge”, said Njabulo Ndlovu.
“It is disheartening to find that graduates are in despair and their hopes are fading thereby failing to prosper”. Education is a tool to unlock our minds and sharpen our thinking capacity and learned ones should pray for beauty of their inwards souls and the outward to be at one”, said Tinovonga Mabika. Mabika added:”Just like Socrates the graduates may be viewed as the wise and wealthy, and may have such in quantities of gold as temperate person as they are”.
It has been suggested that Africans have a syndrome of always looking forward to being employed instead of creating employment for themselves. This has remained true despite assurances from various top officials from several institutions’ of higher learning around Zimbabwe claiming that they have impressed on their students to become job creators and not job seekers in order to make money and advance economically.

Zimbabwe Tertiary education faces challenges

The First semester in 2009, has been hit hard by low students turn out in Higher learning Institutions across the country of Zimbabwe. The government of Zimbabwe, through the Minister of Tertiary and Higher education announced the fees that students are required to pay. All the fees in all colleges and university were pegged in Foreign Currency (US dollars)

Students from the faculty of Arts and humanities are expected to pay US$800 and Science faculty students are to pay US1200. In addition, all college students in Polytechnics and teachers training are expected to pay the range of US400 to US$600 depending whether the student is doing national certificate, national diploma or higher national diploma especially those from the Polytechnic.

In Gweru one of the state owned university were I am a lecturer, students have responded negatively to the introduction of US currency in paying their fees. The turnout has been poor and it is clear that only few students will make it. Our government has a torrid task of addressing this problem. Education is the backbone of development. Hence the government has to play a vital role to make education at tertiary level to be affordable.

At the moment things are promising to be better following the agreement that was reached by the main political parties in Zimbabwe. Teachers’ however continue to threaten not to return to work if the government does not take them serious.

Zimbabwe is a country which has proved to the world wide and to its citizens that anything can work under abnormal situation. The prices for the basic commodities are expensive, even in foreign currency as compared to the countries which uses that currency. For example a loaf of bread is ten rand, yet in South Africa it is five rand. One positive development which needs to be hailed is that the so called money changers have been booted out of play. People have ceased exchanging money since prices for the basic commodities are in foreign currency.

We stand to see whether the all inclusive government will be forth coming in reviving the Zimbabwean economy that has total collapsed. It is fortunate that the entire Zimbabwe received more rains, despite the fact that we had few farming inputs. We hope that Zimbabwean citizens have learnt a lesson not to invest too much powers to their leader and to fully trust who ever is leading them that their rights will be respected

Poetry in the society

In an interview led with a poet of the Midlands, Gweru, Dumisani Ndlovu indicated the masuku of Caven, that to be a poet is an inert capacity.
Ndlovu which had been born into 1980 from Mkoba (Gweru) in Zimbabwe achieved its secondary education with 8 passages of Dosert. He began poetry in 1998. Creature started at the school in 1996 when I was accustomed to preparing before colleagues of school, said Ndlovu. Poetry right as any other form of kind of art is employed like manner of disseminating information in some gatherings and can transform people’s lives.

Cultural poetry in the past was employed to link member of the Community and to perpetuate our culture. Poetry like forms communication ululates and congratulates the kings and the Queens who would be looked like pillar of the community. The language must be made to measure with words decorative, creative and embellished to transform the people’s lifestyle. Poetry enriches the company by the use of the proverbs, the idioms, the metaphors and the comparisons.

In the African the majority of poetry is prepared with the difference of in the Western countries where it is presented in the written form. In an African context the poet gets dressed in full regalia African among which a crown made up of the feathers of ostrich and Eagles includes. It uses sometimes a hat knitted with fibers and a knobkerrie and a shield made with skins of a cow; all those are symbolic systems with our culture of Africa.

This also in a manner indicates the types of animals found in the sector and depicts an image which can be educational with the majority of the people around the sector. It is important to point out the nation to stick to their culture and not to completely replace it by the Western one, Ndlovu said.

He said to masuku of Caven that he was inspired by Albert Nyathi and Mzwakhe Mbuli of South Africa. Ndlovu has an idea that one should teach pupils of school poetry at the tender years. They are the need to give qualifications on the way in which to expose and write the poetry of the school, he added. Because a poet Ndlovu said that the National council of arts of Zimbabwe should present a reward for poetry

SOCIAL ETIQUETTE (CONFRONTING ANTI-SOCIAL HABITS)

The subject of personal hygiene is very sensitive, be it at work, social gathering, public or at college. The big question before us is how one can address the problems without embarrassing or hurting the feelings of those concerned. Also that the person who think is offended does not engage in the same offensive malady.

It is largely suggested that most people believe a lot of things can be done to encourage friends, workmates without tearing asunder the rapport, be it in the work place or at home.
Nose picking some investigation suggest that males have high habits of picking their nose. This seem to have its ancient roots in ancient time not only in Africa, but also in Europe.
It is disgusting and alienating especially when the individual sees it fit to eat whenever they have "dug out". Men are said to have developed this habit much more than women. At times your girlfriend will notice this and feel shy to tell you to use a handkerchief.

Different cultures have different ways of maintaining their health. Men and women have got different roles and expectation they are required to follow. At times a person can offend the table manners depending on the culture that he follows. Culture as define by Cumming et al as a totality of life transmitted from one generation to the other. Scholars like Fiske 1980 views "culture" as something that is ordinary. What one does be it at workplace, home, school or at church can be defined as culture.

Above all hygiene at times cuts across multiple of culture and needs to be preserved to enhance development. Human beings are different from animals because they have certain ways of upholding their hygiene. It is important all the times to maintain high standards of hygiene that can improve our lives

A GIFTED FINE PAINTER IN GWERU(zIMBABWE)

The National Arts Council in Midlands (NACZ) Gweru is playing a pivotal role in promoting the arts industry among the youngsters. Keith Zenda a 21 year old painter believed that hardworking, acknowledgement and devotion to God is all what it takes for one to prosper in all his endeavors, be it social, economic and religious.

Keith was born and bred in the city of Gweru, in Mkoba 17 and did part of his primary education in Chirumanzu before attending Mambo High for secondary education. In response to the question where it all started: Keith told Caven Masuku that, “painting started by drawing of cartoons in books and boards in 1997 when he was doing grade 6. He realized this talent in 2001, after devoting himself to the End Times Message under Pastor Martin Gumbura.

Painting and drawing like music pervades and permeates all areas of social, public and private issues. Painting perpetuate culture since it includes everything that occurs in a society; that is customs, beliefs, values and artifacts that can be handed down from one generation to another.

Zenda a painter revealed to Caven Masuku that he is a breadwinner and is the first born out of a family of six. He started selling his paintings in 2003 and people highly appreciate his works even beyond boards. “I got this talent from God’s assurance that say’s: “I will bless the work of your hands and I trust that with God everything is possible”, said Keith.

“Painting has become full time business and the market is good in Botswana, Mozambique and I am heading to South Africa where there is good opportunity for big galleries”, said Keith. “Last week I was in South Africa, Cape Town for a gallery and they wanted me to sign a contract. One of my associates refrained me from doing that since this was to throw me to servitude and South Africans are taking advantage of Zimbabweans desperations”, said Keith with a beaming face.

Keith told Masuku that he once sealed a deal with Richard Rains which flopped because of economic constraints. Most people appreciate arts especially painting but do not have enough resources to purchase equipments. He also added that in Zimbabwe arts is not and are not getting any support from the government. He revealed that government should actually allocate budget for arts, just like the farming sector. Keith has it that arts can bring vast foreign currency in the country.

Most artists in the Midlands are looking for immense support from the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe. Keith had made a lot of paintings for the National Arts Council in Gweru and what could be highly recognized by the Arts Council Officials are the paintings which he made for 2006 Midlands Show. This shows that young Zimbabweans are talented and capable of doing many activities that can generate income.

Artist of different genres strongly requested the National Arts Council to assist them by providing a platform that will enable them to showcase their artistic prowess to the public.

“Lack of unity among artist and distancing themselves from National Arts Council is causing an untold damage among the artist. Like in Bulawayo where artists are united, Gweru should also do the same”, said Keith. He further requested the NACZ to help in enabling them acquire money for loans from the banks to support their works.

The festive season for 2009 has left the arts industry bleeding, as most artists flee to neighboring countries. Most artists have relocated to South Africa and Botswana. Gweru is a melting pot of arts just like Bulawayo. Bulawayo is rich in arts just like the South African counterparts in the Zulu province. In Zimbabwe they are no any other place that is rich in arts and culture like Bulawayo. The culture of Ndebele s automatically makes its people to be extra-ordinary in arts activities

Portrayal of women in Zimbabwean Media

In Zimbabwe women are still give the second class citizenship despite the millennium developmental goal that the government talked about. Zimbabwe’s political arena has been largely characterized by violence and intimidation that is a threat to populace. Women participation in the just ended 2008 harmonized elections has been generally been low. Only 150 female candidates filed their nomination paper to contest in particularly the local government and parliamentary election said the MISA report. The political violence which claimed many lives did not spare off women mostly in rural areas. Women are supposed to be treated as equals with their male counterparts. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has it that women should be treating as equals to their male counterparts in political, social, economic, civil and cultural aspects. In Zimbabwe women constitute 52 percent of Zimbabwe’s population, but are not fully represented in politics. So far it has been observed that 30 percent female representation quota in public institutions has been accepted as the norm, but women sensed that this was not enough because even at that level they remain underrepresented in the policy and decision-making . This makes scholars like Adele Jinadu (1989) apt when he asserts that development can never ,and will never especially in the Southern part of Africa be viewed as such unless women are given and treated equally to their male counterparts. In the memorandum of understanding that was signed among the political parties in Zimbabwe that is ZANU PF, MDC Mutambara and MDCT, had no respect for women. First women voices were never heard and among the respected individuals who partake in the negotiations the number of women representative were next to nil. Only one lady from MDC out of six members who participated had to represent women. This clearly reflects the imbalance that exists between men and women In Zimbabwe. Again basing on the existing statistics women are continual accorded less privilege as compared to their male counter-parts. Hence development is still mile ahead for us to reach and I am sure the country will only improve its developmental issues after treating women as equals. Zimbabwean women fought in the liberation struggle side by side with their male counterparts as equals. Today it is shocking to realize that their contribution to this process is not reflected at the critical decision making levels. Certain women political organizations such as Women in Politics Support Unit (WIPSU) always complain that despite women accounting larger proportion of Zimbabwe, they only constitute little percentage in decision making and policy making organizations and institute. In the liberation struggle history nothing much is said about women, yet they are writers who fought alongside with male freedom fighter who even complain that they were raped by their male counterparts. One female writer Freedom Nyamubaya in her poetry text book entitled “On the road again” expressed inhuman treatment that they suffered under the hands of their male counterparts in war. Women are important and are the spring board of societies developmental aspects which if the country recognize can pay dividends to our well-being. Positive portrayal of women in the society will enhance respect to women and enable the society to appreciate their effort ion every walk of our lives. The previous parliament has some inequalities that need to be corrected in the next parliament that will convene after the all inclusive government. The WIPSU statics show that women constitute 10.6 percent of Cabinet, 16 percent of post reserved for provincial governors. Of the 66 senators in the House of assembly, only 23 were women. A meeting of Commonwealth leaders that was held in Edinburgh in 1997 set a target to achieve 30 percent representation of women in decision making positions across the public and private sectors by 2005. In this meeting it is understood that the Commonwealth plan of action for Gender Equality 2005-2015 set 2015 as the new deadline by which to fulfill the vision. However, this task seems not to be achievable especially with the way things are unfolding. It will be a great achievement if the All Inclusive government could recognize the importance of women in the society. Women were sure that they will reach equality with their male counter parts in the harmonized election of 2008 as most female politicians hoped that since most men were leaving the country in search of greener pastures that will enable them to achieve a 50/50 margin. Women are always treated by men as chattels and they have been always at the center of violence. In the just ended 2008 harmonized election some women had to watch their children and husband butchered at the hands of ruthless stalwart main political supporters. That left women with less chances to fight such ruthlessness and chauvinism attitude that man caused to women. The fear of victimization for being linked to opposition politics has caused several women to hold back from contesting elections on an opposition ticket. Zimbabwean economy is shouldered by women more than by men. Most cross boarder traders are women and the challenges that they encounter to fend food their families is something that men can not stand. Yet on the other hand such effort that has been positive to our economic stance is not appreciate, neither recognized by the male counterparts. The Gweru MISA advocacy committee that has been currently elected has shown gender sensitivity that will go a long way in the media fraternity in the Midlands Province. It is something of resounding respect to find out that most media houses that operate right across the country have recognized the need to include women in influential position. In media fraternity women percentage is gradually improving and I am sure that will change the operation of media house which use to be dominated by men. That made salient society issues to be unfairly reported, since the male reporter will be writing on things they have less knowledge especially about women. Important issues such as the scarcity of sanitary pads in shops is an issue that male journalist takes for granted. Yet it is an issue that needs to be talked about and even to create a forum through the press that can debate about it. The female politicians currently in the country are scarred of their male counterparts who usually bulldoze their way without pitying against women. One of the renowned Zimbabwe Human Rights lawyer Beatrice Mutetwa scooped an Award for champion and condemning the violation of human rights in the just ended 2008 elections. One of the political women group WOZA have also played a salient role in asking for the transparent government to be formed. Women have been bold enough to challenge all the evils that cripple the society. We have respectful women in the influential political position which I hope should be given a chance to lead the country. Women have motherly care that can be enjoyed by everyone in the society and are less ruthless as compared to their male counterparts