Using Afro-soul and poetry to campaign against child marriage

Terri Dunbar-Curran

SOUTH AFRICA-based Afro-soul singer Shame “Shamie” Mabvudzi has embarked on a trip to his home country Zimbabwe to campaign against child marriage. The performer and motivational speaker has teamed up with long-time collaborator performance poet Haroldene Tshienda, and AfricentiQ saxophonist Marcellus Welman to reach as many people as possible with their message.

“Girls are getting married as early as 12 or 13, and nothing is being done to punish the men who are into these acts,” says Shamie. “Children’s privileges are being taken away. For many people if one of their children gets married, that’s one of their problems solved.”

In addition to school visits, workshops with parents and children, meetings with NGOs and members of parliament, and a fun run from Kambuzuma to The National Parliament to deliver a petition on behalf of the Zimbabwean children, Shamie and the team will stage a poetry and Afro soul concert geared towards raising awareness.

Tshienda and Shamie, who met while they were at the African Arts Institute, work together on many of their projects and campaigns. “I talked about the things I was dreaming of doing, she invited me to a book launch – and everything became history,” he laughs.

They have travelled extensively together, performing and appearing as motivational speakers, but their collaboration goes beyond that. “We help each other with the creative process as well. If she comes up with something I chip in. We shape it up together. I do my own thing and she does her own thing – but we do it as a team. We like to say we’re artists creating social cohesion through the arts.”

Shamie recorded a song which he wrote especially for the campaign. It deals with a girl who is crying because there is something troubling her, and he hopes it will speak to their audiences in Zimbabwe.

Beyond this particular cause, their shows are often aimed at motivating their young audiences. Many of their performances have an acoustic leaning, with room for the artists to discuss the process and inspiration behind each song and poem.

One of the important messages he would like to share with South Africans is that it’s vital to develop a “working mindset”.

“We can’t survive on hand-outs, we need to be self-sustaining – that’s how we’ll become a better country,” he says.

The issue of child marriage weighs heavily on Shamie, because he has seen many promising young lives stifled by being forced into marriages with much older men.

“Some of those children are not going to school, and their knowledge is being shuttered. They don’t have any other prospects in life.”

An important part of the trip will be their visits to schools where they will engage with parents and children. “We want to tell them that they don’t have to take advantage of rich people wanting to get married,” he says.

The reaction to the upcoming campaign has been encouraging so far, but some people have queried whether they are “afraid”.

“But I tell them we’re not going there to fight politicians, we’re going there to protect the girl children and their rights.”

Both Shamie and Tshienda have been recognised for the efforts within the arts and also community building.

Shamie has been nominated in the Music/Artist/Group of the Year category in this year’s Zimbabwe Achievers Awards South Africa. The awards highlight the achievements of Zimbabweans living in South Africa, and the winners will be announced in November. “They looked at what I was doing in the communities and nominated me. I am really hoping to take that home.” Tshienda is a nominee in the Best Spoken Word category for the Bay Music Awards.

On the back of their performances at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown this year, Shamie, Tshienda and their six-piece band AfricentiQ have been invited to perform at next year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

l To donate, call 074 749 1700, www.facebook.com/shamie.co.za