| 'Female Artists Should not be Afraid of Selling Sex' |
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| Culture - Inside Art | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Friday, 18 December 2009 11:56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"If the sex sells, let it sell!" That seemed to be the consensus at a discussion held at the Book Café on Tuesday (15 Dec 2009) featuring a panel made up mainly of female artists and attended by a number of other artists. The discussion which was centred on the perception of female artists by other women became heated as the women who had attended resolved that it was their right to assert their sexuality.
"For a long time I used to hide my cleavage... but I'm over that now." It started with an analysis of how other women view female artists, given by lady rapper Blackbird. Among the things she touched on were the different views in fashion and dress sense between artists and other people. “Women are very funny about the way you dress,” she said, “and so I used to be very conscious of how I dressed. I have a tattoo on my breast and for a "Some women are suspicious about you no matter how you act." Another artist uZanele spoke about how women regard you suspiciously even if you address their husbands as “Daddy.” “After that I won’t be able to talk to that woman,” she said, “and then when she comes to my show she won’t respond as expected because there is tension between us.”
"No one knocks on a door if there isn't a chance that it will be opened..." Carmen insisted and went ahead with her plans. She was uneasy each time she went for a gig because her mother would not look her in the face. She started buying groceries with money from the gigs and that eased the tension. She later on went to university and paid her fees using money from her performances.
"I paid my university fees through my music." Xapa, a prominent spoken word artist, gave an analysis of the power struggles between women and went on to say: “If you want to get famous quickly go and be beautifully undressed. You will become number one tomorrow… Sex sells.” She also pointed out, “Society condones male sexual expression; viagra, sexy man, vuka vuka, he man… but it condones female sexual repression. A woman musn’t be seen to like sex. She must act like the Virgin Mary. It’s either you’re Virgin Mary or Jezebel. If you are a normal healthy sexual woman they will repress you.
In agreement with her, a member of the audience said that if you are wild- be wild. Be what you are. “Nobody comments when 50 cent performs holding his penis- that’s how he makes his money. Be what you are- as long as you can be professional about it.”
Another artist, Edith Katiji, echoed these sentiments when she spoke about how when a woman has an STD it’s a shameful thing and yet a man in the same predicament will have his friends call him a bhuru (bull). “So what kana paina Daddy varikuda kuFinancer your project. Use him at that time and let him finance your project, handiti… ‘cause those are the people who have been put in your way so that you can use them and go. Go ahead. So what kana mhama varikuti don’t go out and perform. Go ahead.” To her fellow female artists she said that there was no need to pull each other down. “There is going to be space for us all. Someone has to be president. Let’s take it on and push for our talent and show them kuti tirimadzimai (that we are women) and sex yacho icha seller (sex will sell), let it sell.” Another female artist said that enough people think that just because you’re on stage you want a little something. “If you dance in a certain way it may reinforce that thought, but just be professional and do your thing.” - The Zimbo Jam Share this bit of jam with your friends:          
3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved." |
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“We are human beings and we also like sex,” commented one participant, “why should it be ok for men to like it and not for women?”
long time I used to hide my cleavage because I was too scared about what the people next door would say about me but now I’m over that.”
Carmen Hwarari, also on the panel, recalled how when she had finished her Upper 6 she told her single mother she wanted to go for a music rehearsal. Her mother was shocked. “So you have decided to go into music,” came the response. “What do you think your father will say. You want be like abo Sandra Ndebele?”
The only male member of the discussion panel, Larry Kwirirayi, commented that there are men who come to shows to prowl but added: “No one knocks on a door if there isn’t a chance that the door will be opened. If you come across to the prowler and you look him in the eye like, oohm, hello, and you wink wink a little bit… and then when he takes you home and you come back looking like a victim, then that’s a different kettle of fish…”
Women who have been repressed become the greatest repressors. Sex sells so let’s go that route. Whether you wear a mini skirt or a sack you are seen as a b*#ch as long as you are in this industry. Sandra Ndebele is just another woman trying to make a dollar.”
She went on to agitate: “We are told as women that if I have sex with three guys it’s wrong but if a guy has sex with ten women it’s ok, you see, so sometimes it’s not selling sex, it’s wanting to have sex. We shouldn’t apologise about it… It’s a right that I should have sex.” She added to cheers from the women in the room.
Let it sell! Let it sell! Let it sell!From the Picture Archives
Guests of Honour: Bertha Zakeyo and Munya Chidzonga caught on camera at the New Year's Party held at The Boma in Borrowdale. |
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