By Rangarirai Shanyurai
Chenhaka Trust, a Mutare based arts and cultural organization held a cultural connection event for artists during its second educational tour, supported by the Zimbabwe National Arts Council in Masvingo. The event was held at the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council offices in Masvingo on November 28.
It was running under the theme ‘sharing perspective and recommendations on pressing policy issues affecting the Arts sector in Zimbabwe’.
The event covered topics including funding and resource allocation, arts and education policies, as well as government support and regulations of the arts industry.
Speaking at the event, Chenhaka Programs Officer Reginald Tinavapi said they planned a sustainable arts project, connecting initiatives across Africa aimed at engaging young artists in policy education.
“Chenhaka Trust is a program based in Mutare that is planning a sustainable project focused on Arts and Culture sector. We are here to connect cultural initiatives in Africa through sustainable public funding in the arts. Our goal is to develop strategies that can help the arts grow in Zimbabwe.
“The “Connect for Cultural Africa” initiative was developed in Sweden and the African Union, and it aims to transform the cultural and creative landscape in Zimbabwe. We recently launched this initiative in Masvingo, following our kick-off event in Harare last week.
“In the future, we plan to expand our efforts into a podcast format and introduce cultural ambassadors. These ambassadors will be featured on our website, as the project will take place in four countries: Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, and Ethiopia. We aim to adapt our activities to our local context while also advocating for our policies,” said Tinavapi.
Chief Bere born Phinias Tafireyi who was among the attendees said the Zimbabwean culture had been distorted because artists were adopting foreign elements in their work which contributed to the decline of the African culture and values.
“Some Zimbabwean artists have abandoned traditional practices in favour of foreign cultures, leading to the erosion of African heritage. The greed of wealth and fame has also contributed to the decline of Zimbabwean cultural identity. Traditional values are being replaced by foreign influences.
“Collaboration among Masvingo artists and initiatives like Vamhari festival is encouraged to help preserve our cultures. Artists interested in cultural collaborations such as guitarists, poets, sculptors, and others are welcomed as art cannot exist without culture. Culture and art are interconnected, which is why collaboration is essential. There is a commitment to promoting and marketing our rich cultural heritage,” said Bere.
