He is Prince ‘Mazilankatha’ Ncube, well known as Dr Gasolo after having rebranded from Mazilankatha recently. His art industry career dates back to the year 1999 while he was still at school. He indicates that since then he has always known that he is an artist. In 2011 he took arts as his full-time occupation/job.
When asked about what he does in the creative industry, Dr. Gasolo explains, “Dr Gasolo does almost everything in the arts, scriptwriting, directing, producing, acting, poetry, artist management”. He reveals that he is a cultural activist as evidenced by how people know him as a man who is deeply rooted in culture. “In everything I do and everything I am, the Ndebele tradition is visible, most of my art portrays the African Tradition mostly the Ndebele tradition and cultural practices”, says Dr Gasolo. His lyrical content and the way he dresses is also evident enough to show his culture.
This cultural enthusiast is also the founder and the current director of Maskand’ Emuntwini Movement which is a drive that seeks to promote, protect and preserve Maskandi music which is a Ndebele cultural heritage.
Dr Gasolo says that the late legendary creative icon, Cont Mdladla Mhlanga, a playright, filmmaker, theatre director, a man who had a gift of storytelling is his biggest role model who largely influenced his passion for the arts industry as he moulded him to be what he is today. He says the other influence is from old people, ‘I also like to hang around elders and they also like to have me around them, I guess that’s where all the influence comes from”.
Dr Gasolo appreciates the recognition that we (Creatives magazine) have given him as one that goes a long way in ensuring that his brand continues to grow, ‘For me to be interviewed by a publication like yours it is a big recognition that I don’t take likely’.
This art guru has written, directed, produced and featured in a number of stage plays such as Identify Matters where he was the writer, director and producer. He acted in a play by Cont Mhlanga called Uproot the Rot and Civilian by Thulani Mbambo. Dr Gasolo has recorded one poetry album with ten tracks and 3 singles. The following are some of the productions he has been involved in;
Nyaminyami – series by Cont Mhlanga (actor), Insuku Zokucina – series by Raisedon Baya (actor), Ekhoneni – series by Vincent Ngwenya (Continuity manager), Golden Belt – series by Dumoluhle Dube (Writer, Continuity manager), Jaiva S’bone – drama by Multi Media Box (actor), Xola Sitha Sami – drama by Dorothy Maseko (actor and production manager).
He has performed in various occasions such as the Inxusa Arts Festival, Independence Dance Gala. He mentions weddings, traditional gatherings and other family events as occasions where he says he feels closer to his audience and he loves the chemistry and the attachment with them.
In his opinion Dr Gasolo briefly explains why the coverage of tradition and culture in the arts industry is very low, “I think the reason is that the generation of our fathers even from our grandfathers lost our identify and adopted foreign traditions thinking that it is Christianity that led to us the younger generation to see our identify and tradition as an outdated “thing” or something which is demonic”.
Dr Gasolo reveals what can be done to ensure that we uphold our traditional and cultural practices as Africans who are in the arts sector, “For the creative industry to portray our tradition I think we need to go back to the issue of identity and know who we are first then we portray who we are instead of imitating others who are doing their own culture which has nothing to do with us”. He says that as a people we are nothing without a culture or a tradition.
Dr Gasolo further clarifies, “Our culture and tradition is what defines us and if you don’t know the definition of a word you will always abuse it, putting it where it does not fit. Am sure you can agree with me that those who do not understand their culture and tradition (the definition of who they are) always abuse themselves”.
When asked what he would do given an opportunity to change the arts industry in Zimbabwe, Dr Gasolo says, “I don’t think we have an arts industry in Zimbabwe. What I see is an arts sector not an industry, so given an opportunity I will turn this sector into an industry that employs a good number of citizens and generate revenue for the nation”.
