AURRA KAWANZARUWA
This weekend saw the revival of legendary musician Oliver Mtukudzi’s Solo Festival after a two-year hiatus.
Held at his arts centre in Norton, Pakare Paye, the festival line-up included some popular names like South African musician Zahara, and celebrated local musicians like Hope Masike, Sebastian Magacha, Gonyeti and Tuku himself.
Solo Fest also offered a stage to upcoming artists like Fiona Gwena, Mbeu and Donald Kanyuchi.
While a festival of solo performances from a range of genres in the quaint setting of haystacks under an expansive peaked tent with gorgeous colourful Chinese lanterns and fairy lights lighting up the evening is wonderful in itself, there is a deeper story at play.
Tuku, affectionately known as Nzou, is building a cultural legacy that he hopes will last beyond his own years.
With the help of his vision-oriented management team, events like Solo Fest are designed to build a legacy of cultural exchange and craft development, offering more than just a stage, but encouragement, advice and mentorship.
It is interesting to note that after every performance Nzou would be found backstage, clapping enthusiastically for each act and taking time to give them feedback on their performance.
The Zimbabwean arts industry has, over the years, lost a number of Giants – Chiwoneso Maraire, Andy Brown, Simon Chimbetu and Leonard Dembo to name a few. Sadly, their legacies have few tangible anchors that younger generations can interact with.
Spending time at Pakare Paye and experiencing the Solo Fest, it becomes clear that the vision goes beyond offering a creative space for all artists to express themselves, but that this has become a tool for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.
Preservation of culture goes beyond keeping records and visuals, it also means protecting the way things are done; the way we treat one another and the way we teach one another.
Nzou is not just a global legend who has built a cool arts centre and gets artists to come and perform on his stage. He is taking the time to make sure that the culture of the arts is not forgotten. A message towards Unhu-Ubuntu that many may miss and that may only become apparent when he is no longer waiting backstage with a cheer and a word of encouragement.
