Kwekwe (New Ziana)– The government has pledged to support music legends during their lifetime for their contribution towards the growth of the creative industry.
The pledge was made at a birthday party for leading afro-jazz musician, Bob Nyabinde in Kwekwe on Saturday.
In a speech read on her behalf by Dr. Benson Dube, the acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Minister Kirsty Coventry on Saturday said the Bob Nyabinde birthday bash was an important event for Zimbabweans as they were celebrating the life of a living legend.
“The Bob Nyabinde birthday celebration is a very important event to the people in Midlands as we support legends during their lifetime,” said Minister Coventry.
The birthday celebration was initiated by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NAC), and artists in Kwekwe.
The event was held under the theme: “Bob Nyabinde @ 67, celebrating the life of an icon.”
The humorous Bob Nyabinde is a singer, song writer who plays the acoustic guitar and also manufacture and repair guitars.
“I want to encourage our stakeholders to keep on supporting our artists and continue to have a culture of respecting intellectual property rights. Let us all buy genuine CDs and DVDs and shun pirated copies.
“And let us continue to support government in providing dignified workplaces in the form of multi-purpose facilities for the arts sector in all our ten administrative provinces,” said Minister Coventry.
The Ministry pledged to give Bob Nyabinde RTGS $50 000 as a birthday present and 60 litres fuel.
Gweru land developer, Sheasham Investments also gave Bob Nyabinde 200 square metres corner shop stand, the late Oliver Mtukudzi’s wife Daisy Mtukudzi presented Bob Nyabinde with US$300 cash and free venue at Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton for fundraising shows.
Popular Harare music promoter Josh Hozheri announced that veteran journalist Munyaradzi Huni is currently writing a book about Bob Nyabinde which will be launched at the end of July during the rebranded Bob Nyabinde Winter Jazz Festival.
The book is set to be used in universities, college of music and will also benefit fellow musicians to know the journey travelled by Bob Nyabinde in the music industry.
Bob Nyabinde, popularly known as the The Headmaster of Jazz, was born on 10 March 1955 in Mutare.
Bob Nyabinde started his music career in 1994 and went on to release his debut album Pane Nyaya in 2002, which had the hit song Chabuda Hapana. By then, he was the headmaster at R.J. Davies Primary School in Torwood, Redcliff.
Bob Nyabinde trained at Mutare Teachers College and worked as a teacher and headmaster before he retired to become a professional musician.
He rose from being a solo musician at private family shows and public performances and then formed the Savanna Drive Band, which plays Afro Jazz genre. His latest offering, Anzwa hama, is currently doing well on local music charts.
The veteran musician has scooped several accolades at ZIMA and NAMA. He also performed at HIFA and Miss World Tourism.
Some of the artists who performed during the white-collar birthday function include Agga Nyabinde, Victor Kunonga and Trevor The One.
New Ziana
