The power of creativity is beyond believing in being a celebrity or an iconic person whose sole role is to receive awards and be engraved in fame.
In our society we have subscribed to a projected image of an artist and creative who acts with a sense of pride and lack of humility. On numerous occasions, several successful artists want to be treated like kings.
One of the most important things is to have a deeper understanding of the role of art as a service for the greater good and for the instigation of societal development and growth.
Every artist plays a different and necessary part in contributing to the overall health, development, and well-being of our society.
Mthuthuzeli Nyoni also known as “Thuso Nyovest” is an example of such a creative who is a passion-driven person with a quest to use his creative ability in order to bring the betterment of the society.
“I define myself as an animator which is to mean that I bring life to my community through my different abilities and talents. Being an animator means that I provide communities; especially the children and youth with joy, interaction, and inspiration, and also give thoughtful guidance so that they develop into law abiding citizens,” Nyoni said.
“We are living in a very volatile generation whereby the advent of social media has resulted in many children and the youth remaining at the risk of losing the sense of respect and identity because of peer pressure and the weak trendy cultures.
“This is something that has henceforth seen the need for individuals to take up the role of being mentors and guides to the children and youth so that they know right from wrong.”
Nyoni outlined how he has been working within the Catholic Archdiocese of Bulawayo as the animator for the Missionary Childhood Association, where he teaches children to walk together in faith and love in line with the theme of the Synod which is “Walking Together As One”.
He pointed out that this service of animating is something of importance as many of the children come from broken and dysfunctional families, hence the need to step up and act as an inspiration to them.
Nyoni further said that: “Being with children means that we have to be compassionate as they are treated badly at times in some places or they are rejected and neglected and are victims of bullies. It is a skill which requires a person to be childlike in character, which is one of my strengths. Even Jesus in the Bible uses the analogy of us having to be childlike so as to enter heaven. Someone working with children has to firstly understand the mind of a child and what children like, and this is what I apply when I work with children.”
Working with youth plays a key role in a young person’s development on a range of levels. In its’ many forms it can change the lives of those young people involved by building self-esteem, learning new skills, encouraging positive relationships and it also helps develop a ‘world view’ which widens horizons and promotes good citizenship.
Besides his work with children, Nyoni also outlined that he is into photography which is one passion he is growing and developing.
“I see photography as a powerful art of storytelling as it provides an emotive stimulus to the one who views the pictures. As a young child I wanted to learn, and with the dawn of smart phones I was constantly self-educating and soaking up masses of information on how to tell a story using a simple gadget as a citizen journalist and photographer. Right now I take pictures of different scenarios at parties and weddings and at church,” Nyoni said.
It is of importance to note that words alone are a powerful communication tool. Photographic images alone too are a powerful communication tool. Join words with photographic images and storytelling, and that becomes an extremely powerful tool that resonates through all human interactions.
“Everybody loves a good story, and I use the power of the photographic lens in telling the stories within my community and surroundings. For now under the motivation of Fr. Maciek, I am using a good quality phone which is actually fascinating. I see it as a business that I seek to engage in so as to supplement my income as I work as a grounds man at Ihlathi High School in Tshabalala, Bulawayo. Good story telling through photography can in the future be a source of income for me as I can be hired for different functions, and in the process buy more equipment," Nyoni said.
“I have been also highly interested in developing and sharpening my confidence through engaging in acting, and this has been a part of my wider community engagement out of the realms of church as I am a part of a short amateur drama series “Youthful Stories Unfiltered”. It has been an interesting experience working with youth from the surrounding communities in telling the stories that affect the youth and children especially those that address the problems of drugs, HIV, risk sexual practices. Acting is needed to enhance one’s self confidence and I believe that it opens up more prospects for featuring in bigger productions and also impacting creatively in society."
Besides working with children and being interested in media and acting, Nyoni put into focus how he was also an expert at making homemade detergents like soap, dish washing liquid, sanitizers and toilet cleaners.
“As I can make different detergents, I have since formed my own company called One Drop Detergents as an artprenuer. For now, it is a small start up as I am currently supplying a few companies locally and also in Plumtree. In this startup company, my vision is to develop skills that capacitate the youth so as to generate employment and in the process reduce idleness which increases drug abuse and also the risk of teenage pregnancies on the youth," he said.
On challenges that he faces in his work, Nyoni said: “To push a passion there is need for funding and support. One cannot venture into art business on an empty wallet. This is a call for those with funds to help startups and aspiring creatives to develop themselves, because I wish to train many youths and children in the development of their skills so that they can have a means of livelihood.”
The art of service thus remains an important call for everyone, where we humble ourselves and must be like a child who understands the deeper meaning of how something can come out of nothing.
- *Raymond Millagre Langa is musician, poet, orator, independent researcher and founder of Indebo edutainment Trust. You can follow on Face Book @Millagre Ray Langa, on Twitter you can follow on #Millagre Langa, email: millagrepapito@gmail.com or indebotrust@gmail.com.
