There have been persistent complaints about the alleged sidelining of Bulawayo artists by local organizers and particularly tertiary institutions in Matabeleland, with the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) frequently being highlighted as part of this issue. Students consistently raise concern over the frequent preference for Harare-based musicians during the yearly Miss NUST event. This observation was noted by Standard Style journalist Mpumelelo Moyo. (MM) Recently, in an exclusive interview with Blessed Shawn Charlie, he shared his insights. (BC) , the NUSTSRC "Minister of Entertainment," to explore this matter further.
Here are sections from their discussion:
MM: Throughout history, there has consistently been criticism that at every Miss Nust event, irrespective of whichSRC administration was in charge, priority has been given to artists from Harare. How do you respond to these allegations under your present tenure?
BC: Certainly, there has been an ongoing concern about maintaining equilibrium when highlighting artists from Harare versus those from Bulawayo. As far as I can recall, during my initial year, the lineup was solely comprised of artists from Harare. After looking into this matter, I discovered that a considerable number of students come from Harare or areas beyond Matabeleland.
As a result, to draw bigger crowds, we frequently have to bring in artists from Harare since most participants favor them, citing acts such as Holy Ten, Voltz JT, among others. This trend over time has resulted in an increased emphasis on featuring Harare-based entertainers. Moreover, these gatherings usually run on lean finances with minimal financial gains.
In order to meet costs, it’s essential to involve performers who can ensure a significant audience attendance, typically achieved by including well-known artists from beyond the city limits. Nonetheless, it should be mentioned that we also work with several local talents like Noluntu J, MaNine, Mzoe7, and Calvin Mangena—who participated in this year's Miss Nust event—as well as Iyasa. These individuals can verify our partnerships.
MM: You talk about collaborating with them, yet they do not receive the same high level of recognition as those based in Harare. For example, why should Noluntu J be a supporting artist for Holy Ten instead of headlining, if both are seen as equally important?
BC: I think the genuine fact is that we can't really replace influence.
MM: Does this suggest that Harare-based artists have greater influence compared to those from Bulawayo?
BC: Prior to planning an event, we carry out surveys to assess audience preferences instead of randomly deciding to secure someone such as Voltz JT. Our polling for headlining performers regularly indicates a preference for contemporary popular artists. These surveys are conducted across both areas.
MM: Considering that many students and even the SRC come from regions beyond Matabeleland, wouldn’t implementing a research system based on percentages be ineffective under these circumstances where the figures are already imbalanced? Wouldn’t this lead to an almost predetermined result?
BC: No, you see, it's important to recognize that even though we might be inclined to lean towards one side or another, this is fundamentally a business. Ultimately, at the conclusion of the event, we must ensure that we produce enough income to not only cover all expenses but also accumulate additional funds for subsequent gatherings.
By looking at the rosters for events such as Piano Fest and Bulawayo Shutdown, you will see that they often include performers from beyond Zimbabwe’s borders too. If you contrast the promotional materials from three years back with those currently available, you’ll detect a trend toward increased diversity.
MM: I get your point about needing to create profits. But aren’t these events funded by the university itself? Isn’t it true that theSRC prepares a budget plan for approval by university administrators, with allocations made by the bursar based on this plan? So why is generating additional profit necessary, and who benefits from these earnings?
BC: Regarding that, I was specifically referring to events like the opening bash. We sometimes experience delays in the disbursement of funds, making it impractical to label it an opening or closing bash when it occurs mid-semester.
Ms. Nust is the sole event that gets complete and prompt financial backing from the bursar. For other occasions, however, we frequently partner with sponsors who help cover costs. When Ms. Nust does not handle the finances itself, we still target making these events profitable. Any extra money generated goes toward additional useful projects. This year, for instance, we intended to allocate funds towards building a new sports pavilion at the Nust campus and supporting several charitable causes. Additionally, we make efforts to include local talents from Bulawayo whenever possible. Although there’s agreement that they should lead certain performances, decisions also take into account elements like social media impact, including YouTube viewership numbers. Having someone like Noluntu J perform alongside Holy Ten might spark curiosity within the crowd. Our focus is not on placing artists above each other but rather ensuring broad appeal and relevance.
MM: If it was entirely up to you, which one would you pick as the opening act from these two options?
BC : Hmm, that's a challenging question, but I would still lean towards having Holy Ten headline.
MM: You've talked about doing some research. Could you share what kind of response you got concerning your attempts to improve the equilibrium?
BC: Individuals recognize the strides we have taken toward achieving greater diversity in representation. However, the well-known Bulawayo artists frequently highlighted tend to be confined to names like Sandra Ndebele, MaNine, and Noluntu J. As a result, it’s essential to cycle through different artists to prevent continuously showcasing the same people, such as Calvin Mangena at successive events.
MM: It appears that you are quite acquainted with these artists, considering how often they have come up in your conversations.
BC: No, it's just that these artists have outstanding personalities and extraordinary skills.
MM: Great job! Congratulations on successfully hosting Miss Nust and for striving to create fairer chances for everyone involved.
BC: Thank you. I trust we can maintain our effective collaboration. Occasionally, new artists may turn into high-maintenance individuals once they get a chance to shine. For example, someone hired at first for $50 could later ask for $300. Nonetheless, we function with limited resources typical of students, and everyone aims to help one another. In essence, so long as there’s interest from the student community for specific performers, we’ll take their requests seriously and strive to cooperate accordingly.
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