Entertainment Reporter
BINDURA Arts Festival Foundation (BAFF) director, Umtali Saidi, has vowed to put the funding it got from the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe into good use by empowering artists in Mashonaland Central to realise their dreams.
To date, the talent scout has covered some parts of the province empowering artists.
“Through the Arts and Culture in Action Project, proudly supported by the Culture Fund Trust of Zimbabwe through the Creative Actions 2 initiative funded by the European Union delegation to Zimbabwe, the Bindura Arts Festival Foundation has managed to successfully do capacity building workshops in Mbire District and Shamva.
“We taught artists about digital marketing and many other skills to help them reach their potential in the creative sector.
“We, however, noted that many artists in marginalised communities do not have smartphones and do not have access to the internet.
“We also would like to salute Mr. Maruta, the D.D.C for Mbire District for his appreciation of the creative industry and how it can change a community and keep the youth off the drugs.
“He also made our project flow smoothly in his district, the country needs leaders like him if the arts industry is to register any meaningful growth,” he said.
He added:
“We successfully held talent shows where two winners were selected from these districts.
“The winner from Mbire is a visually impaired young man called Nyasha Nyakasaka aka (Roarman) who is a very talented artist.
“In Shamva, Sam Jaji aka (Sammusic) a ten-year boy, won the contest.
“The winners will get a chance to perform at the Bindura Arts Festival to be held in Bindura on the 28th of October 2023 where they will rub shoulders with Zimbabwe’s big artists with a chance for collaborations and professional development.
“After the festival, we will also assist them to record their music and market their brands.”
He listed the challenges they were facing.
“We are faced with the problem of lack of venues to host the festival.
“Not only are we facing difficulties securing venues but also the ones available are priced beyond the reach of many.
“Many creatives are dying immaturely because there are no arts centres and community centres where budding creatives are nurtured.”