By Fidelis Manyange
and Gamuchirai Mugadzaweta

THE Zimbabwe Heritage Trust (ZHT), in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA), recently held a workshop on national consciousness and the role of music in nation building at the Zimbabwe College of Music in Harare.
Several artistes from across the board like Mechanic Manyeruke, Bob Nyabinde, Tete Pipilo, Dingimuzi Phuti, Tendai Chimombe and Liversy Matamba, among others, attended the highly-subscribed workshop which was the first of its kind in the country’s history.
Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education director and writer, Dr Augustine Tirivangana, gave a presentation on the role of music in nation building, highlighting the significant role it plays in national development. He also spoke on the role of artistes, outlining the philosophy that defines the arts.
“Philosophy cannot be separated from the people, that is the culture and their world view. Therefore the people who listen to your music have options, either to accept or reject your work,” said Dr Tirivangana.
“It is therefore the artiste’s duty to choose between self and audience.”
Dr Tirivangana emphasised on the need for artistes to thoroughly research into the audience’s needs, desires as well as problems and try their best to provide answers because it is the community which defines arts.
Some artistes, he noted, castigate their own people in order to attract donor funding thereby doing a disservice to consumers of their products.
“Donors fund family planning, climate change, children’s rights but they never attempt to sponsor Small-to-Medium Enterprises, poverty reduction or medical bills,” said Dr Tirivangana.
He gave the example of Chinua Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart which was translated into more than 70 European languages because it dwells on the ‘bad side’ of the Ibgo people’s cultural practices while Gabriel Okara’s book The Voice was not accorded even a second reprint because it brought to the fore the richness, wisdom, culture and proverbs of African people.
ZIMURA executive director, Polisile Ncube, outlined the role of music in nation building.
ZIMURA is an organisation which represents copyrights of composers, publishers and musicians.
The ZHT, on the other hand, is a locally founded non-governmental organisation that seeks to educate and inform opinion leaders on the real Zimbabwean story.
The Zimbabwean story is much appreciated if it is being told by Zimbabweans who have first-hand information on what happened before and after independence.
ZHT Chief Executive Officer, Cde Pritchard Zhou, said artistes must be aware that the West will never let go of Zimbabwe because it (the West) has always been, and still is, after Zimbabwe’s resources.
“So many stories can be told about Zimbabwe and its natural resources as it is on the top list in the world in terms of contribution to strategic minerals that are on high demand in the First World,” said Cde Zhou.
“Musicians tend to look to the West for inspiration, leaving their own culture and values.
“Some have opted to bleach their dark skin that is rich in melanin to make it light, risking and exposing themselves to leukemia, cancer and other diseases.
“The blackman, for centuries, has been made to believe that being white-skinned is a blessing yet the opposite is true.”
The workshop gave a clear insight and educative information on how musicians must be proud of their black skin and never change it for anything in the world.
“As Africans, we had our ways that we used to communicate with Mwari through the spirit mediums, but the whiteman brought Christianity to change and denigrate our beliefs,” Cde Zhou said.
“Missionaries were used to colonise the rich sprouting African systems, disabling them and putting their own structures.
“So much inventions have been made by Africans but whites have claimed ownership of these discoveries.
“Blacks have been second-best choice in the world compared to the white race.
“Never look down upon yourself as a black man, there is nothing little about you in this world.
“The blackman has been sidelined for his efforts and made to believe that there is nothing better they can do if the whiteman has not done or approved it.”
Cde Zhou encouraged musicians not to be subjected to the divide and rule tactics that the West uses in countries like Zimbabwe.
The workshop also sought to educate upcoming artistes and those in the industry on the importance of valuing the richness of the country. When one embraces the true story of Zimbabwe, one will without doubt have a true sense of belonging.
ZHT has been holding workshops in schools, tertiary institutions and with opinion leaders, enlightening them about the real Zimbabwean.
Meanwhile, the ZHT is embarking on a project called Heritage Music Project.
The project will see various artistes coming together to record an album on Zimbabwe’s heritage.
A group of talented artistes have been identified for the first recording and among them are Mechanic Manyeruke, Potifa Mopo, Memory Marimazhira, Alick Macheso, Willis Watafi, Sotsha Moyo, Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave, Sebede, Jennifer Maneni, Andy Muridzo, Albert Nyathi, Emmanuel Thomas, Brian Nhanhanga, Pax Gomo and James Mujuru.