By Gracious Mugovera

THE year 2013 is drawing to an end promising to close as it opened, on a very high note.
While the arts industry might be depressed as a result of the myriad challenges, chiefly lack of resources, mostly financial, the music industry shone brighter.
All genres were ably and skilfully represented.
There was no disappointment, from gospel to Afro-Jazz.
The most commendable thing in the music industry is the seriousness that artistes displayed.
Never mind the fact that returns were, as it has been in recent years, miserable, the artistes never for once took their fans for granted.
Artistes were highly enterprising churning out hits and delivering scintillating acts.
Both the upcoming and old in the industry came to party and did not disappoint.
The year went above and beyond expectations with not one or two but innumerable magical acts.
The music industry beyond doubt captured the imagination of many revellers with many new musicians bursting into the scene.
The smooth Trevor Dongo and inimitable Winky D, Guspy Warrior and Ngoni Kambarami were among artistes that fanned the fire in the industry to a blaze.
New genres overtook the predominantly sungura, loosening a stranglehold that had almost become a permanent feature on the music scene.
Music is one sector in the entertainment industry that has shown consistency through its unprecedented growth with a number of upcoming artistes climbing the ladder.
The industry had a lot to offer.
Many came up with new albums; others toured the country extensively and abroad successfully expanding their horizons.
And it was the rise and rise of dancehall music that was arguably the major highlight of the year.
Laden with creativity and innovativeness that defied logic, dancehall was nothing short of a hurricane and typhoon combined.
Not only did dancehall rise up as a genre it became a testimony that the music industry in Zimbabwe immensely benefited from the ZANU PF led-Government’s 75 percent local content policy.
The genre has not only captured the hearts of the youths but even of the adults.
The chanters have managed cut across generations as a result of their quality productions.
Singing about trials and tribulations in the ghettos, the artistes whose music is topping the charts, have found themselves with an appreciative fan base that easily relates to them.
With not only locally but internationally renowned artistes such as Winky D, who has been well received in countries such as England, Australia and Malaysia, as part of dancehall, the genre has delivered some of the best music heard this year.
Not only have the artistes entertained but have been teachers and used by various organisations to impart critical information regarding issues such as health.
With hit tracks such as ‘Mafirakureva’, Winky D has become one of the leading social commentators in the country.
Some of the artistes that have emerged and done supremely well in dancehall include Shinsoman, Guspy Warrior, Lady Squanda, Lady Bee, Killar T, Jiggaz, Dadza D and Quonfuzed.
However, the going has been tough in the once hugely popular Sungura genre, especially during the days of the talented and charismatic Tongai ‘Dhewa’ Moyo, fortunes seem to be waning in the sector.
Creativity appears to be on the downward trend with a majority of the artistes failing to come up with new exciting acts and heavily depending on past ones that have lost their lustre.
Sungura giant Alick Macheso met with various misfortunes that included a leg injury and the big one which was the departure of key band members Jonasi Kasamba, Noel Nyazanda, Obert Gomba and Franco ‘Slomo’ Dhaka to form their own outfit, Extra Kwazvose.
Though there had been speculation around Macheso releasing a new album, the Sungura maestro has confirmed that he is in no rush to unleash one, which is a big disappointment to many of his fans that are used to Christmas gifts from the artiste in the form of a new release.
But for artistes such as Mukudzei Mukombe better known as Jah Prayzah, the year has been good and this is despite facing challenges in international tours.
The talented musician opened the year with the album Tsviriyo that became a monster hit and a DVD which is making waves.
The ‘Young Igwe’ Peter Moyo of the Utakataka Express finally released his debut album Mushonga Mukuru that was well received by a legion of his loyal fans.
Emerging talented artistes such as Pah Chihera and Tariro Negitare have been refreshing offering a new and interesting sound.
In gospel Mathias Mhere released another scorcher Nguva Yenyasha which has been well received and taken him out of the realm of a one-hit wonder.
The gospel godfather, Baba Mechanic Manyeruke was honoured and presented with a posh Jaguar XF for his achievements in the genre.
Not to be outdone was Zimpraise Choir whose popularity grew both locally and internationally with the track ‘Sungano’.
Artistes like Victor Kunonga appear to have kept a low profile this year while some such as Willom Tight landed deals to collaborate with international artistes, Salif Keita.
Foreign artistes that paid the country a visit to spice up the entertainment menu had mixed fortunes.
International artistes that visited include Micasa, Mafikizolo, Ringo Mahlingozi, D’Banj and Bebe Cool.
While Turbelance delighted fans D’Banj was a total flop.
The shine in the industry has however, been slightly dimmed by the loss of some of the brightest stars Chiwoniso Maraire, Jamal Nyika Mataure and Dj Smoove.
Meanwhile, the film industry made significant strides despite operating on shoe-string budgets.
Various dramas and films were made with the prominent one being the comedy, Gringo Troublemaker, written and produced by the relentless Enock Chihombori.
Another production that highlighted the vast talent in the country was Sabhuku Vharaizipi.
Clearly with adequate support and sponsorship the country’s arts industry has vast potential to meet local demands.
2014 must surely be a fruitful year.