The word “creative” is commonly associated with painters and or musicians but the Creative Women’s Café gave life to the statement that “a woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman.” Now picture a gathering of Bulawayo’s flourishing and upcoming female creatives, creativity in all its forms, all under one roof.
The workshop was held on the 18th of February and was facilitated by Thembi Terry, the workshop being the first of its kind came as a serious wake up call for these creatives because seriously, “Turn Down for What?” when there is so much to be addressed and broadcast through young creatives. Not only was this a safe space for young women across Bulawayo to share their experiences as creatives, it was also a space for learning and teaching. The panel was graced by Khaya Moyo a radio personality from a local radio station (Skyz Metro FM), Chipo Kay a lifestyle blogger and podcaster, Nobuhle Zulu the editor in chief of iNgudukazi Magazine, a women’s’ magazine and Michelle Thanya a spoken word artist and podcaster.
In a city considered the capital/hub of the arts, the panellists shared their experiences in stepping out of what they had grown up to and inventing themselves as individual creatives with their years of experience. The young women were schooled about the multiple ways in which they could brand and carry themselves around, an entirely different approach from the bland approaches by artists of old. The facilitator handled the entire workshop with ease and like a pro with use of practical case studies of artists who are killing it in the creative industry. The importance of monetizing their crafts was stressed throughout the entire programme. and proving that art is not a hobby but should be equally viewed as a profession.
The room was ablaze with attendees eager to share relatable stories with that of the panellists and find possible solutions to their problems. The first and certainly not the last session of the Creative Women’s Café gave the young women a mandate to compete on an international level with creatives in their field. Not only was this the forming of relations but the promise of collaborations to give out the best work to have ever come from Bulawayo. #BulawayoToTheWorld
