Zimbabwe: Tawanda Jumo keeps Kwekwe arts alive
By Kenneth Matimaire – ZIMBABWE – Growing up with strong aspirations to become a musician at a time when there were no facilities and recording studios in Kwekwe to achieve this dream, arts advocate Tawanda ‘Bantuman i’ Jumo is striving to lay the foundation he never had for young and aspiring artists.
Tawanda Jumo
The 36 years old artist decided to go against the grain by identifying, nurturing and supporting untapped talent in Kwekwe. To make this initiative a living reality, Jumo established Duemosteel Enta10ment in 2004, which has grown to become the most prominent entertainment powerhouse in the Midlands province. The company has three departments, Duemosteel Recording Studio, Bantuman i & Steelthrob, and Chipondechangu Arts Academy, which deals with talent identification and nurturing. The arts organisation teaches all forms of the performing arts to age groups ranging from 12 to 35 years.
Said Jumo, “I started music while I was still at school but the going has been tough because back then no parent would allow their children to pursue music as a carrier. And musical instruments were rare to come by. “I then decided to form this arts organisation to provide to the youths what I was denied when I was still young.
“The company specialises with what Bantuman i termed as the “SEE” concept as they “… strive to provide the Space, Equipment and Expertise to the youths in the performing arts.”
The arts academy has become the centre of entertainment in the province as it has been hired to perform at reputable events. The academy performed at the Miss Estate Blues and “Free the Media Concert” held in Kwekwe (and Gokwe), Miss Tourism provincial finals in Gweru, Kwekwe Expo 2011 and Kwekwe Community Radio Initiative Roadshows amongst other notable events.
Tawanda 'Bantuman i' Jumo
The young artists have played as supporting acts to many artists such as Zora King Leonard ‘Karikoga’ Zhakata, afro-fusion star Andy ‘Muzukuru’ Brown, the late flamboyant sungura maestro Tongai ‘Dhewa’Moyo.
Chipondechangu Arts Academy has produced musicians for other reputable bands in the country. Prince Kapatsa (drummer) and Munyaradzi Katemanyoka (keyboards, bass) are now playing for afro-jazz luminary Bob Nyabinde, Evelyn Phiri and Tinashe Muzerengwa have joined a band called Terry & the Bliss whereas Kudakwashe Lunga and David Mbanga’s songs have enjoyed fair airplay on the country’s most followed radio station – Power FM.
The academy has also produced at least one member in all the nine bands that contested at the Midlands province Chibuku Road to Fame 2011 competitions.
Jumo, a teacher by profession attributed the success through strategic partnerships with key stakeholders such as schools, churches, organisations and the local government who previously viewed his arts organisation as “deviant.”
However, the Manunure High School Metal Technology teacher lamented that he is still faced with myriad challenges in his quest to develop arts in his hometown.
“The main challenge has been and still is funding. Our projects are failing to hit the national market because of lack of funds.
“Currently our organisation does not have vehicles and this is negatively impacting on our activities. Sometimes we arrive late for functions or in some cases had to cancel because of transport problems,” he lamented adding that: “Some clients still believe artists can perform for free or for food. Few in my town (Kwekwe) take the arts as business.
“Some parents, teachers and other community leaders still view the arts industry negatively. As a result we have lost a number of talented youths who drop-out due to family or community attitudes.”
Born in 1975, the proud father of two, in 2004 released a tribute to gold medallist swimming sensation Kirsty Coventry which “never saw the light of the day” as he said Kirsty’s parents attributed it to “contractual obligations.” The song was however played as a backtrackto all her tributes beamed on the sole local television broadcaster ZBC-TV.
Jumo said Power FM refused to play the tribute song for unknown reasons. During the same year, Jumo released a single on a compilation album called “Tyropunch Hotter Grooves.”
He chronicled that “This song was played on Power FM only by my friend Djs. In 2005 I released another single titled “Kwedu” on a compilation called “Manunure Mic Fever” also featuring my students. In 2007 I released a compilation album called “Chipo Ndechangu” which featured youths from other schools and the community. This project was funded by the Culture Fund and received fair airplay.
“In the same year I recorded my first album called “Heavy Menu” but had to postpone its release due to the prevailing economic environment.”
However, despite all these challenges Jumo is still optimistic that there is great potential in the local music industry. He cited the opening up of the airwaves as a step further towards promoting musicians since “the existing stations can’t meet productions.”
