ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER
MASVINGO CITY-Seventeen upcoming musicians in Masvingo are set to receive training in music advocacy under the Gender EduTain (GET) project being implemented by Masvingo Root of Development Organization Trust (MaRODO).
The 17 artists were selected from more than 50 local youth artists that performed at auditions that were held at Old Mucheke Hall on Saturday, 22 April 2023.
Artists produced fireworks on stage, giving their best acts in front of over 200 audience at the same time trying to impress the adjudicators.
Adjudicators were mainly focusing on the artist’s creativity, presentation, and lyrical content which is the type of message in one’s songs.
Addressing the audience and artists on the event, MaRODO co-founder and executive director Acknowledge Mawere said that the auditions were part of Gender EduTain, a project they are currently partaking and is funded by The Netherlands Embassy in Zimbabwe under the 2022 Gender Champions Awards.
Mawere said the project is made-up of three key issues, Gender, Edu and Tain. He said, gender represents the thrust focus of the project where Edu means education and Tain comes from entertainment. Edutain means edutainment which is a fusion of creative content that simultaneously educates and entertains the audience (people).
“In this project our integral aim is to raise awareness of gender issues in our community through music which is danceable and educative or informative at the same time. This makes the essential part of the training because it is a skill and knowledge that one needs to learn”, said Mawere.
Mawere emphasized that the major goal of the project is to enhance the role of art in eradicating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) as well as empowering youths.
In terms of diversity, the event was balanced since People Living with Disabilities, Women, Men, Adolescents, Adults and Youth attended as performers and some as general audience.
Artists who made it in the auditions are also going to receive a free recording contract from a studio that MaRODO is establishing, radio interviews and radio features to boost their career.
The Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, My Age Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Performing Arts Schools Trust (Zimpast) were partners in the event.
One of the national top producers from Masvingo, King Chief On The Beat who produced various songs for award winning artists in Zimbabwe like Holy Ten, Garry Mapanzure, Kae Chaps to mention a few was part of the adjudication team during the auditions.
Mawere further highlighted that, the project supports the Zimbabwe Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation’s Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) strategy (2020-2030) which emphasizes development and growth of the sector as a critical player in the matrix of attaining an Upper Middle-Income Society as spelt out in Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030.
“The GET project contributes to the attainment of Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 goals which are, promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, equitable development and prosperity for all through creative content that advocates for a society conscious of gender justice. Internationally it supports the United Nations (UN)’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals such as GOAL 3 – Good Health and Well-being, GOAL 5 -Gender Equality, GOAL 9 -Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and GOAL 10 -Reduced Inequality.” said Mawere.
Mawere scooped an award from the Netherlands Embassy in Zimbabwe last year after he was recognized for his outstanding, excellency in digital Gender Justice – activism/advocacy that he champions.
His innovative strategies encompass the use of creative content, multimedia methods of information dissemination and utilization of digital platforms. Mawere further decided to empower other young artists through MaRODO using the grant that came with the award.
MaRODO and partners also took the event as an opportunity to shun drug and substance abuse through anti-drug abuse messages that were frequently delivered to the youths. Through their top-notch performances, some artists as well encouraged their peers to stop taking dangerous drugs.
Drugs contribute to the occurrence of GBV, such as intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual harassment which is prevalent among youths.
