Two decades of song and dance
THERE is a phrase that has become synonymous with patriotism, pride and achievement, which have often been reserved for those who have excelled in various disciplines; it’s called “flying the country’s flag high”.
The phrase brings to mind images of sports personalities in the calibre of Kirsty Coventry and Eliot Mujaji; it conjures up images of football luminaries such as Benjani Mwaruwaru and Peter ‘Nsukuzonke’ Ndlovu.
In the past two decades, individuals have risen who have been honored for raising the country’s flag high and doing the nation pride, but a certain category of the exceptionally gifted sons and daughters of this soil have gone virtually unnoticed.
This category is best exemplified by the Siyaya Arts group that has been touring all over Europe and has recently accomplished the amazing feat of breaking into America’s theatre industry.
Africans have the dubious track record of failing to appreciate and honour its own talent until it is ‘discovered’ somewhere abroad and celebrated elsewhere; and Zimbabweans have also suffered from this unfortunate oversight.
Last year, the country’s Tourism Authority, ZTA went to great lengths and at exorbitant cost to ‘re-brand’ the image of our country by hiring the services of several high-profile international artistes such as Joe Thomas to perform.
At a farewell performance held by Siyaya at Stanley Square last week, one member of Siyaya made an astute observation saying, “We can not re-brand our country without using the arts. In fact, it makes no sense to bring someone else to re-brand our own country.”
Taking into account the vast talent in the local arts industry, it is clear that any initiative that seeks to reverse the negative international perception of Zimbabwe’s image that does not accommodate our arts industry is neither serious nor holistic.
At a time when some self-serving individuals were busy trashing their own country abroad in order to ingratiate themselves to the country’s detractors and worm their way into donor funds as well as asylum lists, Siyaya arts was playing the role of ambassadors.
They were reminding the world that Zimbabweans have a proud heritage re-affirming, through song and dance, that we are as good as anyone else and indeed better than others are.
Firmly rooted in Makokoba, Bulawayo’s oldest township, Siyaya Arts was started in 1989 as NASA (Nostalgic Actors & Singers Alliance).
It was re-christened Siyaya (On the Move) during its 10th anniversary for the reason that it was, “a literal description of our journeys all over the world, as well as of an identity, an ethos and a heartfelt belief” in themselves as well as in their country of origin – Zimbabwe.
Described as “colourful, climactic and bursting at the seams with energy” critics have credited Siyaya for being “the Zimbabwean song, dance and drum troupe (that) puts much of the competition to shame”.
Whilst many artistes used the opportunity of touring abroad as a one way ticket to self-imposed exile in foreign lands, Siyaya has been consistent, returning home to their families and sowing back into the community from which they made their humble beginnings.
Their integrity has been rewarded by them being one of the few groups granted visas by the UK and other countries abroad to work and tour Europe.
“Siyaya has become a household name and we have a good reputation because we always come back – this is our home. Mambazo (the director) has been very instrumental in ensuring that we comply with the migration laws of the countries we visit and we respect the laws and customs of various nationalities who consume our products,” said Desmond Ntini of Siyaya.
He paid tribute to Saimon Mambazo Phiri whose leadership has seen Siyaya grow by leaps and bounds into a formidable art company, which incorporates a junior’s policy as well as various arts genres.
Founded upon “powerful reinterpretation of traditional tales, music and dance, which is often brought to life by relating them to their modern derivatives” and executed meticulously through, “imaginative manipulation and use of social issues in their music”,
Siyaya has become a force to reckon with.
Renowned playwright, columnist and arts critic, Raisedon Baya recently wrote an article urging the media to work together with artistes to create a positive image of our country and its people arguing, “we can not censure what other people have to say about our country. Instead we must take it upon ourselves to correct the negative perceptions people have of us, our country and our leaders.”
Clearly, Siyaya is one group that does not require such prompting as they have been true to the ambassadorial obligation that every Zimbabwean who steps on foreign soil has – to correct the misperceptions and falsehoods peddled about us by those whose ignorance is exceeded only by their arrogant presumptuousness.
Today, arguably one of Zimbabwe’s fiercest defenders, most loyal citizens and least acknowledged ambassadors, Siyaya is leaving the country for the United Kingdom where they will be based for the next seven months on tour.
“When we get to the UK, some of us will leave immediately for Dubai to perform for two weeks and upon return, another group will travel to France to fulfil engagements there. Thereafter we will travel to America for the first time ever on tour,” said Javas, a member of Siyaya.
The group will be celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and they shall hold their annual Ibumba Festival upon their return in December, which is set to be the biggest ever.
It is easy to be patriotic when one’s country is enjoying peace, prosperity and global prominence.
But when a country has been vilified, ridiculed and treated as an object of scorn as ours has in recent years – being a Zimbabwean on foreign soil has been a test of commitment and endurance.
Siyaya passed the test.
With two decades of song and dance to show for it.
By Delta Ndou
This Article 1st Appeared in The Sunday News (05 April 2009)
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