THE revelations by Black Umfolosi last week that they have not received a cent from the government and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) for their song Unity made sad reading.
To the uninitiated, Unity is a popular song played on national television and radio in the run-up to national holidays, particularly the Independence, Heroes’ and Unity days.
The song is so popular that almost everyone in Zimbabwe identifies with it.
But as Black Umfolosi director Tomeck Dube told Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister Jonathan Moyo in Bulawayo last Thursday, the prominence achieved by this song has not yielded any financial benefits to the composers and singers.
Black Umfolosi has also in the past represented Zimbabwe at international events all over the world, but the group has never been honoured by the government.
However, the nation knows of several artistes who have been lavished with accolades for only pandering to the whims of partisan interests of a certain political party.
In 2011, a few days after Wendall Parsons emerged joint winner of the reality television show Big Brother Africa, some businesspeople had put together $50 000 for him and $10 000 for Vimbai Mutinhiri, another contestant.
The two were feted by President Robert Mugabe at State House and yet there are so many questions about the benefits of the reality show especially on the nation’s morals.
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In the past, the government has rolled out the red carpet to musicians and other artistes whose contribution to nation building is questionable yet it cannot extend the same to Black Umfolosi.
Dube noted that iconic Bulawayo jazz band Cool Crooners have also suffered similar neglect.
The predicament of the two groups and many others that have not come out to complain should interest the new Culture minister Andrew Langa.
When State institutions decide to honour artistes for their contributions with honorary degrees and diplomatic passports, among other things, the selection criteria should be clear.
ZBC should also be stopped from exploiting artistes by not paying them royalties. Creativity should be rewarded fairly and Black Umfolosi’s case cannot be ignored for obvious reasons.
