Speaking at a creativity enterprise course held for women musicians in Mutare last Monday, Women In Business Trust Gender Projects Officer, Violet Chitsa, said that female musicians should rise up and show their strength in as far as music is concerned.
It is high time the woman defied the odds. Instead of whining over being relegated in the music industry to second class ranks, the onus is on women to stand up and prove their worth. Women should stop making excuses, but should positively look at their unharnessed power and ability to change the status quo,” she said.
Chitsa said music was a business just like farming, sewing and cross boarder trading. She urged the Zimbabwean women who were once confined to such careers as teaching, nursing and secretarial studies to break these professional barriers and make their presence felt in the arts industry.
I am proud that some women are successfully taking art as a business from which they can earn a living. The arts can sustain livelihoods if a business approach is adopted, said Chitsa.
A good example is of successful talented gospel singer, Shingisai Suluma, who left teaching to pursue a career in music showing that music can be just as enriching.
Fadzai Mudzengerere, a popular jazz artiste who attended the workshop said:
Zimbabwean women artistes have the talent, but are scared of the unknown. Writing lyrics is no different from writing business plans, it is only that as musicians we let ourselves down by viewing music as a hobby.
“Music can be planned, the same way as business. We need to understand the business concepts as it helps in developing our music, increase our knowledge and protect ourselves and our art,” said Mudzengerere.
The workshop was well attended by women musicians from the eastern region that covers Manicaland and Masvingo provinces.
Post published in: Music