Articulate Dube is one of the few poets we have in our province, we boast of this kind of diversity in as far as the arts industry is concerned where we manage to represent almost all art genres. This young man well known as Jovis Jovara, Imbongi engadumile in the entertainment sector is also an actor, writer and a comedian, notable attributes he largely demonstrates through his poetry.
He has two years’ experience in the creative industry.
Jovis believes that it is important for people to understand their tradition and cultural practices as Africans as this ensures that they are closely attached to their roots and to be proud of who they are and where they come from as this has spiritual benefits. He explains, “Indlela oyiyo kumele uyilandele ngoba udalelwe yona ngeke ufune ukuyaphila impilo yezinye izizwe wena umnyama lokho kutshengisa ukuthi wena awuzithandi indlela odalwe ngayo uthi umdali wenza iphutha. Ungananzelela indlela yethu ilobuntu omdala uyamazi omncane, omncane uyamazi omdala ubusazi ukuthi nxa uyintombazana nxa kusebusuku ungabona umuntu wesilisa uphephile kodwa manje uyabaleka ngoba uyakudlwengula. Enye into esuke ibe yinkinga ama Africa azenza ama Africa nge Africa Day kuphela. Mina ngokwami akumelanga kube le Africa Day because every day it’s Africa Day that’s our way of life”
Jovis reveals how art is a powerful vehicle for taking Africans back to their roots where they are expected to observe the beliefs, attitudes, norms and values as practiced by our ancestors, this is in the African spirituality realm. He is proud to be one of the creative traditional and cultural artists from Matabeleland South province where his style is more traditional and cultural, bringing out the African being in him. ‘Art yindlela yokubuyisa umuntu empandeni zakhe.
Jovis briefly explains his journey into the arts industry, “I grew up reading a lot of Ndebele books, prose and poetry works, I used to write beautiful compositions that used to be read in front of other children at school, people used to compliment my works. I was very scared of standing in front of people and this is why I used to stammer a lot. Someone introduced me to a Tune me application, this is where I used to record myself and share this with my friends, then one of my friends submitted my poem at the Zimbabwe Council of Churches competition and I later received an email saying I have been selected as the number one poet, this marked a huge breakthrough into the poetry industry. I used to say abantu bayadlala bathi uJovis uyakude, ngaphi kude bantu”. Imbongi engadumile explains how his poetry is different from that done by others, “I am not doing praise poetry, I do spoken word, something that people are not really used to”.
Last year, 2021, Jovis Jovara scooped the best poet award at The Eminent in Sports, Music and Academic awards (TESMA) at Gwanda district club, an event that was organized by the EduFoundation Trust of the Matabeleland South province. He also came first as a poet at the Zimbabwe Council of churches function held in Harare last year.
Jovara has released several collaborative projects with artists who include Intercessor, Ronnie B ,Sengezo, Zhezhingtons, Zagoe Radge, Genteel, Khoikhoi and Kay Kid Umfanomsotho. He is looking forward to release an album by early next year 2023, this will be his first album with DJ Drums as his producer. He has released the following poems Indlovukazi, Uthando lusehlule Uthando lomzali, Asechithekile and Shona malanga. Jovis is in the process of writing a novel. He does comedy tiktok, he however states poetry as his main area of specialization in the arts industry. Shortly, Jovis Jovara will be releasing a short film on gender based violence.
He wishes to work with Madlela Skhobokhobo, Hwabaraty, Msiz kay, Zamoh Cofi., Obert Dube locally. He was largely inspired by Zamoh Cofi who used to work with a lot of renowned artists such as Big Zulu, Ricky Rick, Obrey Qwane, Black Diamond. “He is my role model to the extent that when he replies to my messages , angilali, ngiyahlanya kakhulu ngiyafisa ukuthi lami in future ngifike ezingeni akilo”.
Imbongi engadumile states some of the challenges he faces in the arts industry where he mentions lack of sponsorship, limited recording facilities, he also wishes to be signed under some record labels as he believes he will greatly benefit from such arrangements. Marketing his art is one of the areas he hopes to get assistance in so that he is not only known in the community. Jovis also talks about limited shows in as far as his art is concerned and this is an area that he believes can be opened up so that they too can have a wide coverage and market themselves in many platforms like any other creative in the industry.
“I will fight for every artist to be able to get a sponsor or a record deal, I also urge our arts organisations to hear our cries and respond accordingly for our growth in the sector as most of us depend on our art for survival”.
