Africa-Press – Eswatini. When talking about performing arts, it is hard not to mention Sthembiso Kunene.The actor has done a number of projects in and out of the country, he has been featured in several shows in South Africa and has worked with some of the biggest brands in both Eswatini and South Africa.
Famously known as Sthera Mow, Sthembiso has also expressed his love, interest and passion in the growth of the performing arts of Eswatini. He was also featured in the most recent show played at The Theatre Club, ‘The Gods are not to blame’.
His love and passion for the performing arts shines through his work. Sthera believes the industry in the country has been neglected for a long time that it would need more attention for it to grow back into an existing industry again.
infant stage
“The current state of theatre and acting in Eswatini is not good because it has been neglected so much. It is almost as if the craft does not exist in the country because not a lot of people know about shows unless it is the small community of people who are part of the acting industry.
There is hardly a play at the theatre club or shows on television(series/movies) which goes to show that the acting space/industry is still at its infant stage,” he says.
He and a few other people are constantly trying to revive the industry and he believes that the current work done is not enough to improve the industry.
“It is not enough because nothing has really changed much over the years in the acting space as it would be expected given the years it started.
Ways to improve the industry would be having more people who are educated in the field to take a lead so that they implement ideas that will benefit the whole acting industry.
Directors, producers and actors should have a space where they try and educate each other about the industry instead of allowing everyone to do the craft as a hobby as most people in the country do,” he added.
Sthera said the more actors and people in the industry educate themselves about the industry, the better because everyone would have an idea of what to implement in order for the industry to grow.
Alright, the industry has not grown in the past couple of years; Sthera believes that Eswatini does have the capacity and talent to create an active performing arts industry, if enough work would be put in.
“There are certain productions that are competent. If those productions can collaborate, there is so much change that can happen.
Having production shows as a collective is what can make Eswatini to have the capacity to host the industry,” he says.
With everyone putting in the effort to revive the industry, Sthera being one of them, his biggest concern is the education of artists about the industry.
“My biggest concern has been actors not educating themselves enough about the craft as a whole. Yes, you can have talent but it is also just as important to educate yourself about the industry because it saves production time and everyone is able to produce quality work that will be received well by the audience even outside of the country,” he added.
He added that the exploitation of actors in the country was alarming, attributing that to actors doing it as a hobby as opposed to as a profession.
concerns
“Because most actors are not qualified in the field, it becomes easier to take advantage of them. Those have been my biggest concerns and also the fact that there is not much collaboration, which is what produces quality work.
Team work always makes the dream work,” he says.
There is always a silver lining to every bad situation; the recently hosted theatre play at the Eswatini Theatre Club was hope for the industry.
It was a glimpse of light that the industry can be revived. Sthera Mow, who was honoured to have been part of the play, says it meant a lot to him as an actor.
“It really means a lot to be part of the play and also be able to get the theatre packed because that means my generation of actors is willing to go all out and do something for the industry that hadn’t been done in years,” he says.
He mentions that these type of collaborations are the ones that are needed to revive the industry. “If we continue to collaborate as actors and create ideas then it will have a really huge positive impact for the industry. Being part of the play means a lot to me because again it shows how much great things we can achieve if we work together,” he added.
culture
However, because there a few people working on reviving performing arts in the kingdom, it only means that they are doing some things right. Sthera believes that they should focus on telling their own stories, themselves and ensure that they put their work out there on all platforms so that it can reach a larger audience.
“In that way we are able to promote and celebrate the culture,” he added.
As one of the most active actors in the country, Sthera has plans to continue to promote and help develop the industry for the next generation.
“I have actually done it before where I taught young people who are interested in the craft. I am also willing to collaborate with anyone who has ideas, from the young people to the elderly people, that way I am able to share my knowledge and give back what I have learnt over the years as an actor. I am also open to teaching young kids who want to learn more about the industry.
They can always reach out and I will be available to help them out about the industry as a whole from basics, theory and practical,” he added.
“Trust the process and always remember that what’s yours will never miss you.
The acting industry is not for the faint-hearted and it needs a lot of hard work in order to make it in the industry so always make sure you harness your craft everyday so that you can be separated from the rest.
Lastly always believe in yourself and learn from the people before you and that way you’ll be able to achieve anything you wish in the acting industry.
Also go to school for the craft, it doesn’t have to be in a big institution, you can also attend acting classes and learn from YouTube so that you become good at what you do in every aspect.”
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
