Nurturing talent

The ‘Music Corner’ has been on for almost eight months now. It started off as a thought that with time synthesized into a vision that was brought to reality (in my mind, still) by a good friend who has been a calibred journalist in writing as well as in speech for the TIMES, for a good number of years but now based in South-Africa, working for a certain newspaper company.

The idea was to have me write at least three articles of a thousand words each, then email them to him for rectification, setting up a meeting with the big man Mr Mbingo and producing the article samples as part of my proposal-being a column writer, a voice for artists.

What actually happened was I encountered problems when emailing the articles to him, so I decided to face the big man with my articles-unchecked. When I got to the Times reception desk I greeted the receptionist and asked if I could see Mr Mbingo. I hadn’t set up an appointment with him so I was told that he is a very, very busy man so it was impossible for me to see him-totally discouraged.

"I’ll wait the whole day if I have to, thank you very much", I replied-making sure that my stern look pierced through her eyes, enabling her to understand that I may scare easily but today was an exception-I wasn’t going to take ‘it’, surely not from her or anyone for that matter. This thought had become a reality in my mind so much that I believed it was do-able. It felt awkward trusting my gut on something that falls far from what mainly occupies all my energies and concepts (music and lyricsism), yet not so far if you think about it carefully.

To cut the long story short, Mr.Biggs loved my idea and here I am today. Blessings to all the hearts and spots I’ve touched thus far. This column has given me a platform where I get to converse and share with the world. There’s a lot I learn along the way that I in turn share with everyone else, so that we grow and mature in this together. The following are smss and emails that’ve been sent you guys-my dear Music corner addicts!

l Morning Mfethu, yo story today has inspired me a lot. People will never love to see each other to success, they want to be worshipped. Your happiness mfethu is within you.

l P I read your article on your Zim experience the other day. Your corner seems to inspire everytime. Africa needs more people of your mindset, anyway let me know wherever you are performing, be blessed. MBO

l Hi Jazz P, sengiyawulala after reading ‘My spiritual master’. Congrats on your capacity to introspect and look beyond the ‘ordinary’. I’m impressed. Will call. Hugh Magagula

l Hi. I read your article, you were honest. I’m an artist too, and I love poetry. Taby

l That was a powerful piece. Keep writing-somebody might just answer, have faith.

One thing that I’ve picked up from my readers especially those I meet in estradini-nje or in social circles is that for those that are artists, we are practically going through the same things-well,similar. One’s story won’t be too far to the other’s-they end up sounding like versions to the first.

My non-artist readers are most intrigued by how well our local artists carry themselves on stage on stage despite the unjustness that goes on’ behind the scenes.’ They love us anyway. They feed from the high energy that you have as an artist for your product, giving eventual birth to recognition and fruits of thy labour.

A couple of days ago I was called by a ‘fresh from school’ Music corner’ addict, a certain Ms Cassy who asked to meet with me on issues pertaining to what I write about. She was from Nhlangano so she called me as soon as she got to Mbabane. I rushed to the bus rank to meet her, led her to Legends Restaurant and Bar-my now second home-confession.

No-it’s got nothing to do with the ‘dishy barman’, it’s more of the atmosphere set by the music that is played there-which is coincidentally my kind of music-ragga reggae, dub, hip hop, soul-ooh I could go on and on.

I’m even marketing the Temaswati album there, simply because the set atmosphere permits it so. (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!) Firstly, I apologised to her for being flat broke-not being able to offer her a drink. I backed it up with a ‘One day the sun will shine’. She gave me a shy smile and assured me not to worry about a thang.

Her name is Nontobeko Mamba., aged 19. She took out her book of writings and asked for a certain direction with her work. She writes, but she doesn’t know if what she writes falls under anything in particular. As I paged through, I got even more convinced-she’s a poet. ‘You are a poet soul my sister’, said I.

She was a bit surprised and relieved though. She reminded me of myself after I completed my high school. I did know that I was an artist, just didn’t know where to go with it locally. God though has his strange ways of dropping a trail of white pebbles on your pathway to your destiny for direction sake.

We went on to talk about family roots-history. An enquiry on whether she has relatives/family members that are artists/artistic. It helps you understand your individual worth even more and gives your product more structure and realness. She is a Mamba. There are a couple of Mamba artists that I know locally of which coincidentally are related to Nontobeko. She was shocked when I mentioned the names, convincing even more that she is truely gifted-what she has is bigger than she realises.

The good news is that the masses are so supportive of local artists, the problem now stands with the ministries, to mention a few-SNAC, Minister Hlobsile Ndlovu’s ministry (Youth affairs). Spirits Indigenous is a local explosive group that is formed by Thobile Makhoyane, Fubu and my dear goddess Bongiwe Dlamini.

They will be performing in Graham-stown on the 15th of this month. They have gone around looking for sponsors-as far as the Swaziland National Arts and Culture council. They had a meeting with the council manned by CEO Stanley Dlamini.

Imagine this-they were told that they only sponsor the ‘cream of Swazi artists’…meaning that they don’t qualify? Does affiliation earn you the ‘cream’ title or this is just typical Swazi reaction nasekumele kuphume imali? The world cup committee was given E6 million for the celebrations but now they are failing to give reasonable pay, now rumour has it that the budget has been dropped to a 400 000/40 000!

Where are we going as a country I ask? It’s time to get these event organisers free education on the Business side of Artistry-there’s no other way. Enjoy your Sunday, blessings to all yall!

My email is jazzphephile@gmail.com and for easy access my facebook name is Phephile ‘Jazz P’ Hlophe

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: