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Jeys Marabini

Bongani Ndlovu Entertainment Correspondent
BULAWAYO artistes have come out in support of sentiments by Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo, that national musical galas should be for successful, talented artistes and crowd pullers, not chancers.
Addressing journalists in Bulawayo last week, Moyo also said there was no need for all-night galas as they should be short and entertaining.

In separate interviews yesterday, some Bulawayo artistes said some selected artistes who perform at the galas watered down the event with their substandard performances.

Afro Jazz artiste, Jeys Marabini said the minister was right because some artistes who perform at galas did not know what they were doing. He said because the galas were beamed live on national television, they should show only good music from Zimbabwe.

“The galas are beamed live to regional and even international audiences because of DStv. So by portraying sub-standard performances it is a reflection of the arts industry in Zimbabwe,” said Jeys.

He said having over 80 artistes at the gala was too cumbersome and the shortening of the galas was a decent idea.

“If the galas have 15 artistes, they will at least be the cream of the nation. Not this chaos where over 80 artistes will be performing – the show becomes boring and cumbersome. Galas should be special, the smaller the number the better,” said Jeys.

Dance queen Sandra Ndebele echoed the same sentiments and said some artistes who perform at galas did not even rehearse.

“Some artistes do not even take the galas seriously. If you look at some of the groups, they have uncoordinated dance moves and costumes which do not match. My main worry is presentation on stage as some people do not even take time to choose costumes,” she said.

Ndebele said shortening the galas and selecting fewer artistes to perform would make artistes work hard so that they get chosen to be on the line-up.

“As an artiste, when you do not get chosen to perform at the galas, it will make you work harder so that you get selected next time. This type of competition is good for the industry,” said Ndebele.

Bulawayo hip hop artiste, POY said galas should be big national concerts for only the best artistes. He said the media ministry should, however, put in mechanisms so that other artistes can be recognised.

“In order for the artiste to be a crowd puller, they need exposure. I urge the ministry to speed up the process of opening up the airwaves so that other people in other parts of the country can be stars in their own provinces”.

However, Bulawayo afro-pop artiste Khuxxman said pungwes were good for the artistes and the host city.

“These long line-ups and pungwes are good because they only take place in host towns or cities once in a while.

“People should be able to enjoy themselves on the day the gala comes into their town and see as many artistes as they can from Zimbabwe,” he said.