Dancer and musician Ricco Andrews also known as Vinnie the King in the entertainment industry is calling for unity amongst Bulawayo artists.
To make his intentions clear Vinnie, who will be launching his anticipated E.P titled ‘Born International’ on Friday, October 7 in Bulawayo, is calling for a 5 minute cooperate prayer at the beginning of the launch.
This time will see artists and youth from Bulawayo take time to pray for the Arts Industry and the City of Kings and Queens under the theme #PrayformyCity #PrayforByo.
Vinnie says Bulawayo has been ignoring the bad that has been happening amongst its people especially in the arts industry for a very long time. The talented artist who was once a member of the award -winning dance crew ‘Antivirus’ says this barely a week after a traumatic Intwasa Arts Festival which failed to live up to expectations due to poor organisation and disunity amongst artists.
“I had a conversation with DJ Skaiva a couple of months ago about the disunity that is there among locals and the irritation that local people have about local art. Some think it’s an attitude but what we realised is that it’s actually a curse, for instance look at our fore fathers in music and sport, where are they now? They always get to the door but they never enter.”
“Every year we get Kalawa coming in Bulawayo, pack up the stadium and leave with millions of dollars. We are left in a cash crisis; our own local art is left suffering! The attitude is just an addition but there is something deeper.
“Why is there not one artist in our city in our generation that owns their own apartment? Why are we the last in everything? You may think I’m crazy but those that have been in the Industry for a while know exactly what I’m talking about,” Vinnie said.
“We go for years and years, pushing, sacrificing time and money in hope that one day things will change. These are our common statements, ‘Kuzolunga’ (it will get better), ‘Amalanga Awafani’ (days differ) or ‘basivalela phandle’ (they don’t want to give us opportunities). Well guess what! There is a pending issue that no one has told us about.”
“They say we are the hub of Arts in Zimbabwe but look at the results. What happened to Intwasa, Isigodlo esaMakhosi, Ibumba, and Bop? Why are all our people moving to other countries? Why is Harare the only place where artists succeed in their music, sport and art while we are supposedly the Hub?”
“This is deeper than me so before I provoke the wrong people I would like to extend my invitation to you on Friday, October 7 at the City Hall opposite Haddon and Sly in Bulawayo at 4:30pm to come together for a five-minute prayer that will help change the situation we are going through. At this point only God can help us #PrayformyCity #PrayforByo”, Vinnie the King said.
The day will also see the release of his new documentary that digs a little deeper into his journey and his vision as an artist.
