By Nhau Mangirazi
KAROI-
Internationally acclaimed multi-lingual poet and award winning journalist
Nqobile Malinga is among the participants who confirmed to showcase their
talent during the forthcoming Hurungwe Arts Festival, HAF taking place on 28 to
29 November 2014.
Born in Bulawayo and raised in Plumtree near Botswana and
Bulawayo, he attended Nopemano primary school, Tokwana Secondary school in
Plumtree before enrolling at Pumula and Mpopoma High schools in Bulawayo.
He later studied journalism at Christian College of Southern
Africa, CCOSA in Harare.
Currently, Malinga is working for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting
Corporation as senior producer, presenter and sub editor for both radio and
television and presents a kids program on ZBC-TV called Bhek’ Emva as Ukhulu
Grand Pa.
He performs his music and poetry in more than ten African
languages including Kalanga, Shona, Ndebele, Sesotho, Nambya, Xhosa, Zulu,
Swati, Venda, and Sestwana among others.
He is looking forward to use other international languages
such as Portuguese, French and Chinese in the near future.
His solo performances have seen him travelling to some Southern
African Development Community, SADC countries including Botswana, Swaziland,
South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zambia among others.
He was invited to perform in the United States of America
and Shangahai World Travel Expo in China.
Malinga is a founding member of Mpopoma High School drama
club now popularly known as Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts, IYASA of the
Banolila and bum jive fame.
Locally, he has participated at different social, corporate
state functions such Independence Heroes Splash, Umdala Wethu and Unity galas
among others
He won several awards
at various artist festivals organized by arts, media and civil organizations
including Budding Writers Association of Zimbabwe poetry performance in 2000,
Dambudzo Marechera Commemorations 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Malinga has written over 1000 polished up poems and has
performed at over 1500 venues since 1992.
His music talks about social, religious and political issues
dwelling on HIV and AIDS, gender, women and children rights.
To his credit Malinga has performed alongside great artists
including local super star Oliver Mutukudzi, Sulumani Chimbetu as well as
international dub poet Matabaruka and Yasus Afari from Jamaica, Ndingo Johwa
from Botswana.
He has also featured at Harare International Festival from
2008 up to 2010.
He says ‘’Poets are prophets, eyes and ears of the society,
watchdogs motivated for the betterment of communities socially, politically and
economically’’
Hurungwe Arts Festival is the brainchild of Karoi based
drama group Baptism of Fire, BOF.
They got financial support from Culture Fund while some
local companies have pledged to assist to make the project as a success.
BOF communication director Skumbuzo Sibanda says, ‘’we are
grateful that many artists are supporting our initiative to promote arts industry
in Hurungwe district. We look forward to have more local bands, traditional
dance groups and this project is a launching pad for promoters to tap the
abundant talent from Hurungwe’’
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