Why Are Local Acts Not Touring Internationally Despite Their Good Works?

Limited opportunities of touring internationally risks having the Ndebele culture and history being erased in our minds. Image by Umkhathi Theatre Arts Work

BY THABANI H. MOYO | @thabanih | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | OCT 31, 2021

Matabeleland region, also known as Zimbabwe’s arts hub has the most underrated dance groups that are rich with Ndebele history and the limited opportunities of touring internationally risks having the Ndebele culture and history being erased in our minds and those of future generations. How then do you think the provision of international tours to locals would take the Matabeleland region to greater heights? asks Thabani H. Moyo.

BULAWAYO (The Citizen Bulletin) — The Matabeleland region is known as the arts hub of Zimbabwe. It is from this region that one of the most celebrated Zimbabwean arts products that toured the world in the form of Zambezi Express of Siyaya came from. The region is home to one of the most decorated dance groups Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts. However, taking stock of the products that are touring the world currently one realises that only a few products are currently out there on the international platform.

During the recently held Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo, Umkhathi Theatre Arts Works left people convinced that their latest act Footprints deserves an international tour. Those who watched it wished that the performance should have gone on and on and never ended.

This is because the show was so well told and executed through storytelling and dance that one hardly saw any flaws during the performance. It was beautiful artistry that the audience encountered in the performance. The production was launched in 2019 and surprisingly by then, no one saw the potential that the dance drama had.

Footprints is a gem of a performance. During the festival, the show left visitors to the City of Kings calling for more.  It is not surprising that two weeks after Intwasa Arts Festival the show had already had a run in Harare’s Theatre in the Park and at Jasen Mphepho’s little theatre. This is a testimony that the producers of those two theatre spaces saw potential in the production.

Footprints is one product that one would like to watch and not get disturbed. It is a show that its aesthetics keeps the audience glued to the performance area up to the end. It has such a powerful attraction.

The show is hypnotising as it tells the Zimbabwean story with such honesty and without bias. It is such a powerful performance by a local ensemble.

Umkhathi Theatre works is one group that one is tempted to say that they are underrated. The group has toured the world but one feels the tours should be more especially with their latest offering.

One wonders why it is not out there on the world stage representing Zimbabwe. Is the show not what Zimbabwe needs to spruce her international image and confirm that something good can come out of it? If other countries are known by the products that they have sold to the world then Zimbabwe should also have a product and be known by.

Footprints showcases various Zimbabwean dances and Zimbabwean cultures. It tells the life of AmaNdebele and those they have interacted with through history. It is a story that tells of how cultures influence each other and how historical incidents have influenced our way of life as a people. The way the story is told leaves those watching it mesmerised. The performance is solid.

Footprints is a performance that should grace international festivals. It is a performance that should win awards, not only local awards but international awards. It is a piece that shows pure Zimbabwean culture.

A big let-down for such performances is a question of resources. For Umkhathi Theatre works to take Footprints across the world will remain a pipe dream because the Zimbabwean creative sector is not well resourced.

The ensemble has survived from hand to mouth for a long time. The ensemble has been negatively affected by the COVID-19 and has made little or no income at all for the past two years. The fate that faces Umkhathi Theatre Works is the fate that faces many theatre groups in Zimbabwe.

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This is where the government must chip in and make sure that such brilliant performances that carry national stories within them are given a chance to tour the world. The government has many international platforms where Zimbabwean arts and culture are showcased and Footprints deserves to be on such platforms.  

In the past, the government has taken less deserving works to places like Spain, China, Dubai and many other places. It is our appeal to the government that Umkhathi Theatre Works’ Footprints be given an opportunity to tour.

One wonders where we are missing it as a country if we have such beautiful performances that never make it into the world. Umkhathi Theatre Works has got it right with their latest production and the nation must be seen supporting them in their dream of taking the production to international stages across the world. This is the type of artwork that contributes positively to the GDP.