The Sunday Mail
THE local arts industry is fast turning into a physical tussle arena as artistes seem to be finding more pleasure “exchanging blows” than perfecting their skill.
Going through arts news headlines, one is pardoned for assuming fist fights are an important part of the arts industry.
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) has since set up a panel to probe violent skirmishes that now characterise the arts sector.
The probe team with a three-week lifespan was put in place on November 13, 2014 following incidences of violence at the Zim dancehall Sting 2014.
But conversely, instead of instilling fear and fostering discipline among artistes, the development seems to have driven artistes on a violence overdrive ostensibly to test the probe team’s effectiveness.
Violent skirmishes seem to have become popular and an easy solution to differences.
The NACZ director Elvas Mari last week said the association was going to thoroughly investigate violence incidences and come up with a position.
Mari indicated that they would work with law enforcement agencies as well as the arts stakeholders to ensure that measures are put in place to stop these acts of violence.
“We have asked for a report to be compiled by the NACZ deputy director Mr Nicholas Moyo and his team. It is only after the findings that we are going to come up with a position. The report is in the process of being compiled and it will be out soon, only then will we give the council’s position,” he said.
Arts enthusiasts have, however, called for the local arts regulatory body to hastily come up with regulations that deter such behaviour.
“If we want to see boxing or wrestling we simply go to appropriate venues for the sport. I don’t think it’s proper for our artistes to fight let alone in public. What image does this portray for our celebrities? The NACZ should come up with regulations that make such offences punishable,” said Charlene Maphosa.
The critics note that if the trend is not nipped in the bud, it will grow out of proportion.
“Arts and culture events are meant to entertain people hence issues of violence should never be allowed to happen be it among the artistes or fans. This is bad for an industry that is already struggling and yearning for sponsorship,” added another arts enthusiast, Mike Mutiro.
The violence trend has previously been limited to Zim dancehall but gradually the virus seems to be spreading and catching up with other forms of art like comedy.
Before the Zim dancehall violence saga involving the likes of Seh Calaz and Confused, Killer T and Platinum Prince, this unbecoming behaviour had been witnessed during the rise of dance groups after the turn of the millennium with the clashes between groups like Girls of Peace and the Red Angels led by Zoey Sifelani.
The two groups clashed mainly for contracts and accusations of using “dirty sexual antics” to lure patrons to gigs.
Early this month rival dancehall artistes Soul Jah Love and Seh Calaz were on each other’s throats during the Sting clash. The scene triggered massive violence among fans that left many injured.
And a week ago, feuding stand-up comedians Carl Joshua Ncube and Edgar Langeveldt brought proceedings to a standstill at the Book Café as they pushed and shoved following an altercation.
Ncube accused fellow actor Langeveldt of making sexual advances to his wife.
The feud between the two has been ongoing for a couple of years now. Security details have in the past been used to stop the differences degenerating into a fist fight.
While the public was still coming to terms with the two comedians’ embarrassing encounter, controversial dancer Beverly “Bev” Sibanda felt she was not to be outdone.
The dancer visited her rival’s gig and ran riot in the process beating up one of her former dancers whom she accused of dumping her in favour of Zoey.
To make matters worse, the boss (Zoey) also received one or two jabs from the otherwise gawky dancer.
Similar incidences of this nature have been happening in recent times only that they have not been brought to the public’s attention.
Big and talented stars in the form of Alick Macheso and the late Tongai Moyo were ‘‘rivalries’’ but not once did they fight, in fact, off the stage they could be described as buddies.
