He helped form and spearhead an arts group and they have gone to places that even the names of them are hard to write what more to print them. Nkululeko Innocent Dube is regarded as a local entrepreneur who realised the niche in the arts industry and with his uniqueness approach has reached greater levels despite of all the odds against new entrepreneurs. Zimbabwemetro.com had the opportunity to converse with him and below are the excerpts from the conversation with the Iyasa Director Nkululeko Innocent Dube telling the world about how he and his group broke the new ground to success. He is a dedicated man who dreams big and does not believe in problems but understands that in life people face challenges.(Nkululeko Innocent Dube IYASA DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER)

ZM. Please give us a background of how your group started and how you have managed to keep it intact?

NID. It has always been difficult to answer the question because there was no exact date or month but in the year 2000 the idea of Iyasa was born after the success of the Mpopoma High School Drama Club. However it was in the year 2001 that Iyasa actually took off and fledged into a professional arts entity that would become a performing arts school for youths supporting and promoting the best interests of young musicians, dancers, actors and poets. It has since expanded to be a resource centre for most established and upcoming artistes.

The vision we have at Iyasa is what has kept us intact I believe. How? Working with artistes from their tender age means they grow up within a system and vision they grow up in and want to be loyal to. It’s like a family and no one wants to abandon their family no matter how much they achieve in their lifetime, is there? They will always want to go back and give back to the organisation that made them into what they are. Yes we have artistes that have moved on like any other organisation but I can safely say all of them are still attached to Iyasa in many ways.

ZM.  We understand you have seniors and juniors what’s the criteria which you use to choose those who graduate into the senior team?

N.I.D. IYASA does use any auditions in its selection of performers but they welcome any young talented individuals or any youths who feel that they have a calling in the arts. However IYASA has a number of character traits they expect to observe from their performers. Performers should be disciplined; patient, committed and they should be able to give a performance that is of a certain standard. It is not everyone who is trained by IYASA who joins the group because trainees are free to join other groups if they like. Look at Sandra Ndebele, New Age among others. They went through Iyasa and then went on to make their own mark in the world of arts.

Firstly there is the senior team which comprises our best, our long serving and more experienced performers.
There is the junior team which comprises of the youths who have decided to dedicate their efforts to learning the skills of performance until they mature in the senior team.
The third category is that of trainees who are youths who are still are under basic training.

ZM. What kind of problems have you encountered when dealing with your group?

N.I.D. I don’t believe in problems but I do believe we have met challenges in our quest to be where and what we are today. It’s a pity that our greatest challenge was lack of finance and resources. We were the unlucky generation in the arts who came into being when the Zimbabwean economy was going down, donors were pulling out and so we had to earn every cent to meet ends meet. I would say we managed, barely, to an extent that as of now our new challenge has been trying to convince donors that we need their assistance. Most of the donors measure our success and when we ask for assistance they seem to believe we must be having a chain of donors supporting us already. For the record we earn every penny we use for our image and needs on stage in Zimbabwe, regionally and internationally.

Other challenges included convincing the adult world especially, parents and guardians that the arts industry was a worth cause to fight for their children. To a great extent I think we made great strides in changing negative notions and beliefs about choosing the arts as a career.

ZM.  We understand you travel as a group for many tours can you name a few places which you have toured and which was your best tour and why?

N.I.D. Wow, well all I can say is we have been around, seen and done that. We live with our bags packed. We travel as a group but of late our artistes have also been involved as individuals, pairs and smaller teams in various other projects worldwide. We have been to every corner of Zimbabwe. We have been to Zambia, South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Austria, Australia, UK, Germany, Czech Republic, USA, Slovakia, Serbia, Spain, Russia, Lichtenstein, Switzerland…the list is endless. The truth is every venue and place is special and brings with it memories that we cherish.

A moment that will always linger in my mind was the video of the song Banolila by the late Solomon Skuza that we produced. It took us to another level. I had not anticipated that really. We have also won a lot of awards and accolades locally and internationally so its hard to separate the experiences we have had in our travels and tours.

ZM.  Where do you usually perform the most, domestic or international and which market would you consider the best?

N.I.D. We have two seasons actually; we perform in Zimbabwe and Africa during summer and move to Europe during their summer too. We miss winter in any part of the world! The truth is we treasure our performances at home because these are the people who have made us what we are. I always maintain that we will perform in Broadway today and at a wedding in Tsholotsho the next day. However I must note that in terms of financial returns and professional organisation we still have a long way to go in Africa. I believe we will get there one day.

ZM.  Considering the situation in Zimbabwe both Political and Economical do you think it limits your abilities to show the world what you (group) are made of?

N.I.D. Yes I think it does. The arts are supposed to be a true mirror of any society and it’s a pity that we have political limitations. Our economy has also let us down; we end up having to improvise and to compromise a lot. There are some productions that we do internationally that we can never be able to present locally due to lack of resources. We have a dream to have structures, a proper training center fully equipped but at the moment the economic state is not conducive.

ZM. Who inspires you?

N.I.D. The South African arts guru and producer of the film Sarafina, Mbongeni Ngema. He made me what I am and having trained under him at one time shaped my vision. I even named my son Mbongeni, after him. There are other people such as my father Paul Randa Dube, playwright Sihlangu Dlodlo and the community of Bulawayo and Zimbabwe in general. They have always been there when we need them.

ZM.  What motivates you to continue with your group?

N.I.D. I have walked a longer distance from the STOP sign. I have an obligation to these young people and my community. I chose to live the arts and live the arts I will. It’s more of a legacy and going back has ceased to be an option considering the journey we have undertaken already. Failure is not a choice. Some people even say Iyasa has become a brand name and just like Highlanders football club in Bulawayo among other things has become a landmark for the people. True, but we will maintain our national and international character too. Do you think that gives me a choice?

ZM.  Lastly where do you see yourself and the group in the next few years to come? Do you think you will be able to survive the competition?

N.I.D. I dream big. We have a challenge to ensure the security of our artistes and create a perfect arts establishment that will stand as a true example for generations and generations. I cannot predict the future, I take each day as it comes but obviously we look forward to a brighter one.

ZM.  Thank you so much Mr Nkululeko we wish you all the best with your dance group, what would you want to say to all your fans out there all over the world?

N.I.D. “You are the only end and beginning to what you want to be in life. Remain humble and keep aspiring. Dreaming is not enough, it is what you do when you wake up that matters most,” I salute and respect all the people that have made Iyasa what it is today, what I owe you is nothing I can put a price to.