Diaspora Artists: What Role Do They Play In The Development Of The Creative Sector Back Home?

Vusa Mkhaya...One of the Diaspora artists

BY THABANI H. MOYO | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | JUL 10, 2021

It is often said that the world has now become a global village with migration reaching higher levels. With that movement of the people, Matabeleland has over the years lost countless notable artists who joined the Diaspora community.

BULAWAYO (The Citizen Bulletin) — A Diaspora Artist can be defined as a creative person who has migrated and their descendants who maintain a connection to their homeland. Migration of the artists from the Matabeleland region in search of opportunities has increased significantly in the past years.

Artistes who emigrate are some of the most active and highly skilled in the region.

Most of these have migrated to neighbouring countries with some opting to go overseas to countries like Australia, United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and others.

Names that come to mind include Vusa Mkhaya, Bruce Ncube, Sisasemnkosi, Bhekilizwe Ndlovu, Ramadu, Archie Mhone, Titshabona Malaba, Frank Malaba, Pedzi Sithole, Awa Khiwe to mention but a few.

It is worth to note that emigration of these artists to different regions is primarily centred on the country’s economic growth. First and foremost it is normal to look at this phenomenon as a loss or detrimental to the Matabeleland region and as a gain to the receiving countries.

The argument is that the emigration of above average artistes from the region leaves it poorer in terms of artistic development.

When influential artists emigrate, younger boys and girls growing up lose that key personnel touch with the artist who could have anchored and enlightened their lives.

With this physical absence, the region loses positive externalities.

In this installation, it's critical to ask, has the region really lost or benefitted from this migration? Do our Diaspora artists impact our region from their bases abroad?

We seek to highlight the role that the Diaspora artists play and can continue to impact in developing the region.

Diaspora Artists share a collective memory about their homeland, Bulawayo and Matabeleland regions. They have a commitment to keep the homeland alive through symbolic and direct actions.

Recently the Diaspora artists have contributed to the increased development of the local arts industry. They have played a role in the promotion of trade in artistic works.

The diaspora population from the region has preferences for the region’s goods and services, nostalgia about home products.

This has been evidenced by the number of online views from the diaspora for such events like Bulawayo Arts Awards. Raisedon Baya’s latest book Shut Your Eyes and Run has had significant purchases from the Diaspora.

Vusa Mkhaya was involved in pushing most of the sales. The other initiative- iMGIZ publishing company has been helping artists back home to publish and sell their music online.

These are examples that highlight how diaspora artists can be an avenue for trading local arts products in overseas markets.

Artists abroad can increase the availability of market information essential for trade by helping local arts exporters find buyers and improve their knowledge of the market.

The diaspora artists can improve the region through direct investments. Some artists have taken the risk of investing back home in different projects. These have a sense of duty and emotional attachment to the region.

A good example is Titshabona Malaba who has invested in a film project— Igazi Labafo. These are projects that offer employment opportunities to the youth in the region. Bruce Ncube also created Africa Day in June as a platform to celebrate, encourage and develop the local arts industry.

He now runs his online show The Path From eNjube which is promoting artists back home.

Other areas that our Diaspora artists can play a vital role in is research, innovation, knowledge and technology skills transfer. With the knowledge and exposure that our Diaspora artistes are getting these can be utilised as mentors in the creative sector.

Recently, Vusa Mkhaya shared his lived experiences with a group of artists during the Shangano group discussions. Such platforms can act as knowledge spillovers.

It is encouraging seeing local initiatives like Shangano using electronic communication to engage with our diaspora and encouraging them to transfer acquired skills back home. The Diaspora artists contribute positively, significantly and robustly to artistic and economic development in the Matabeleland region.

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More in-depth analysis shows that the impact of the Diaspora artists contributes to the improvement of artistic skills to those at home and in their productivity through different initiatives.

Besides playing a role in developing the arts, Diaspora artists with other Diasporas have been involved in philanthropic work in the region. They have managed to engage in different fundraising activities for health and educational projects for the less privileged.

We encourage our Matabeleland Diaspora artists to continue with their good work. It will be good to see strong networks being created that are aimed at uplifting regions and selling their products to new markets.

There is still a lot of work that needs to be done for our sector.

Diaspora artists not only contribute with remittances sent back home, but they also contribute with other forms of tangible and intangible capital which include Intellectual capital, Financial capital, Cultural capital and Social capital.

Engaging Diasporas in arts development efforts must not be a one-way street and local systems need to pay attention to what is in it for them as well.