BY OBERT SIAMILANDU KARIBA artistes are pleading with stakeholders in the resort town to support their efforts to put the border town on the showbiz map.

The call was made on Tuesday at the stakeholders’ engagement meeting.

The artistes said lack of support had forced some of them not to record their music on time or they have completely abandoned their projects.

Kariba Arts Association chairperson and former Nyaminyami FM presenter Brian “DJ Awesome” Mtete said support from stakeholders had the potential to change the face of arts in Kariba.

“You are businesspeople and the endeavour in business is to be successful and profitable. The same with us as artistes, we need to grow, we want people to know us by what we do, hence we need your support,” DJ Awesome said.

“As artistes, we are there for you, utilise us as your brand ambassadors and we will never disappoint you.”

Gospel artiste and association’s vice chairperson Simba Chikomo noted that the lack of resources had remained a hindrance for most Kariba artistes.

“It is not that we are not as good as those artistes from big cities  like Harare, but our challenges are many. We don’t have enough resources and support here,” Chikomo said.

“For an artiste to produce a good song, you need about US$150 to record just one song and most of us here cannot afford that. You should also go to prominent radio stations with your music if you want to be a big name, but it is also not easy for an artiste to get airplay at some of these radio stations.”

Chikomo added: “Moreover, we should be played more in Kariba than any other artiste from outside, but this has not been happening. Our local station used to play us big time when it was launched and we became big names, but this was just for a short time.”

Another artist Shonamite concurred that local artistes should get the first priority if they are to be brand ambassadors of the resort town.

Kariba mayor Ralph Maoneyi said the council was ready to support local talent.

“Artistes should voluntarily use open spaces to sharpen their talent and skills. They get to display their talents from time to time, this will make them blend in with the community. You can also use selected audience spaces and we will support that,” he said.

  • Follow Obert on Twitter@osiamilandu