Zim playwright and cultural activist, Raisedon Baya has pointed out that the arts sector in Zimbabwe simply doesn’t pay enough for artists to live decent lives. He said in an opinion piece that only the top artists such as Jah Prayzah and Winky D enjoy decent earnings from their work.
He notes the case of actors that featured in popular TV shows on ZBC such as Gringo‘s Lazarus Boora who featured:
Says Baya:
The truth here, and we are not saying it loud enough, is that ZBCtv was not paying artistes who were the content creators enough. Most artistes went on TV for fame and ZBCtv took advantage of that.
So why are we quick to say musicians who never made any sales badly planned their lives? Let’s tell the truth, and shame the devil. The sector does not pay. Simple.
Baya says as a result, artists have to rely on charity when they fall on hard times and even for a decent funeral when after they die.
More: Sunday News