with Raymond Millagre Langa
There is a difference between being inspired by a piece of art and copying or plagiarising an art piece. Originality is the basis for the creation of a unique piece of art as it is something that is driven independently and is also critical for thinking.
In understanding the diversity of art, originality is a referral to lending one’s personal uniqueness and style to an idea and this brings quality to a piece of work.
Originality is the art of uncovering one’s true voice and is driven by thinking out of the box. The art of originality is something that comes from inspiration gotten from a significant other; such as a mentor or an expert in that specific field of the arts.
This is managed through the utilisation and the overcoming of learned facts and knowledge characterised by skills which play a role in the defining of one’s voice.
We live in a generation where the importance of originality is something that is fast becoming shrouded in obscurity.
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Many artists and creatives present themselves in the image of the “wanna be” where they literally mimic other past or present artists in every sense of the word. The lack of originality for the artists is something that limits their capacity to be individuals who are able to export their original Zimbabwean art works.
Originality for the artist is something which is of importance as it enables the artist to be self-aware and also be aware of the everyday experiences of the community. Originality is something that begins with the person and in a great many cases it also means taking the path less trodden.
One of the most original manifestations for the artist is that of taking the path of being an edutainer overlooking the most common path that many have taken of being an entertainer. Taking the path of edutainment enhances the originality of the artist as they do not conform to the usual premise but instead they take the role of championing new ideas that relate to art, development and bucking the traditional approach which seldom has a developmental agenda.
A challenging truth is that being original is something that is very daunting. This is so because when an artist tries to do something different or new, they in turn expose themselves to the possibility of ridicule or judgment.
Using a historical allusion, philosophers, writers, painters and religious men were violently punished and disregarded when they introduced new ideas and propagated ways that were not in tandem with the traditionalist modes of thinking of those times. This is something that is also still prevalent in our current times when society seeks many of the artists to conform to the current trends and not create their own trends.
The social media culture is one factor that has produced a death knell on the power of originality. Social media influencers and the artists themselves are driven to produce “bubble gum” art which has no lasting effect. Others copy American artists in the manner they scantily dress and behave as artists, and it kills the whole issue of originality and exporting one’s culture.
In a great many cases the trendy art has no edutainment effect but it simply purveys division and hate which aggravates societal divisions. The “mbingas culture” has also invaded the arts scene to an extent that many artists have lost the sense of originality of their sound as they are driven to please the pay master, rather than live out their artistry.
However it is of importance to note that there are visionaries in the arts scene who continue to play a role in forging and pushing original art works.
The originality of the art works is enmeshed in congruenting one’s cultural aesthetics into the everyday of their experiences which helps in producing art works that are driven by a deep message which can influence development and growth.
Original art forms have a stronger voice that is accentuated in the castigating of social ills that relate to gender inequality, violence, drug abuse, and especially the rampancy of suicide and femicide we are witnessing especially among men.
These are the realities which are seldom heard or seen, and even sung by many of the artists. We are living in a generation where artists have to stray from the norm and in the process be able to challenge the status quo which is the epitome of originality. In the process, they instigate processes that relate to art and development.
In essence original art thus helps the creative to be able to develop their own sense of style and personality. For example, the golden era musicians like Lovemore Majaivana, the late Fanyana Dube, the late Oliver Mutukudzi, the late Leonard Dembo, Thomas Mapfumo, the late Don Gumbo and Ilanga, Willis Wataffi and Africa Revenge are examples of artists who had, or have their own sense of style and personality.
This was felt in the resonance of their sound and the soothing effect characterised by the impactful message in their music. These are examples of artists who never tried to be someone else, but kept the sense of their identity.
When artists decide to be original and follow the road less travelled, they do not let the opinion of others bring them down. They let go of the fear of judgement and embrace who they really are.
It is imperative to understand that only if as artists we allow ourselves to think independently and outside the box, then we can hope to create something truly unique. By being non-conformist, we can set new trends and define new ways of doing things.
Embracing the power of edutainment as a tool of artistic expression is something central and of importance for the artist and the creatives where they play an active role in the processes that orient to edutainment.
- Raymond Millagre Langa is a musician, poet, writer, orator and founder of Indebo Edutainment Trust. Follow Raymond Millagre Langa on Facebook, Instagram @Millagre Ray L. E-mail Raymond Millagre Langa on indeboedutainmenttrust@gmail.com or millagrepapaito@gmail.com