Albert Nyathi to Grace Shangano Arts.

By Sikumbuzo Nyoni

Albert Nyathi, one of the celebrated icons of national poetry will grace the 2022 edition of the
Shangano arts festival pencilled in to take place from November 25 to 28 in the mining town of
Hwange.
Speaking to the Shangano Arts Trust Festival Director Petros Ndlovu said Nyathi is the perfect guest
to inspire and mentor all the upcoming artists in Hwange.
“We have selected Albert Nyathi because he is a well-known artist, an experienced artist, and
somebody from this region. Nyathi does understand even the culture of Hwange, Binga and
Tsholotsho and the likes. We wanted somebody who understands our culture, and secondly we also
wanted somebody who is talented, somebody who is well travelled.
“Albert Nyathi has travelled all over the world and secondly Albert Nyathi was once an acting
director of national AIDS Council for some years back. He has got the experience and he understands
the Arts very well.
“We want him to come here to teach young people, groom them, mentor them and show them the
direction in the creative sector. To us we believe that Nyathi is the best artist in the country,
someone who is matured, somebody who has got a vision and we believe that there is a lot to learn
from him,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu has applauded the efforts made by Hwange Central Constituency Member of Parliament
Daniel Molokele who has financed the coming of the iconic artist to Hwange.
“We have been trying to get Albert Nyathi to come and attend Shangano festival for more than six
years but we have been failing. We really want to thank the Hwange Central Member of Parliament
Daniel Molokele who is sponsoring Albert Nyathi to come to Shangano.”
“We are also calling upon all other stakeholders, members of parliament, councilors to come
forward and support the creative sector. This is the reason we have opted for Albert Nyathi,” said
Ndlovu.
Albert Nyathi is a poet, musician, writer, actor, and philanthropist. Born on 15 November 1962 at
Kafusi in Gwanda District in Matabeleland South. He started fusing his poetry with music to reach a
wider audience and became particularly famous for the poem and song “ Senzeni na ?”, which he
performed following the assassination of Chris Hani. Also he started writing his plays and poems at a
tender age, inspired by the national freedom struggle.
Nyathi has released four albums to date including, Welcome to Zimbabwe (Land of Contradictions) in
2000 and My daughter in2008. Nyathi has also been involved in the development of various arts
talent when in 2017 he launched The Albert Nyathi Talent Show (Ants),aimed at primary and
secondary school going artists. The programmes aimed at giving a platform to learners to nature
and develop their talents.
Meanwhile there will be a talent search for young and upcoming artists and Albert Nyathi will be the
patron of this talent search in Hwange.

“We are expecting to have more than 30 young artists who will participate in the talent search
during the festival,” he said.
Albert Nyathi is a legend who has contributed immensely to the growth of the music and poetry
culture in Zimbabwe. He won the Zimbabwe National Poetry Award in 1995 and his collections
Echoes from the Kraal and Echoes from Zimbabwe, were published in 2001 and 2010. He has toured
several countries globally.