The creative industry in Africa is not as economically lucrative when compared to other sectors . Especially when considering the percentage of financial investment on the continent that goes towards the creative sector as well as its percentage contribution to the African economy compared to other industries..
However, this does not nullify or reduce its importance. When we zero in on the work of fashion, architectural, traditional, and digital artists in the continent, we realise that its contribution towards social development is quite significant and only a matter of time until the financial numbers catch up.
There are creatives out there set on keeping this industry alive and using it to contribute to not only the economic but the social development in their respective countries and Africa as a whole. One such creative is the Co-Founder & Creative Director of Kay Media Africa, Eugene Ramirez Mapondera.
Eugene Ramirez Mapondera is one of the most sought-after digital artists in Zimbabwe and his skills as comic book illustrator, animator and digital artist are renowned in Africa as well as in parts of Europe and North America. He is also the co-founder of the nationally renowned, Comexposed, a platform created for digital artists throughout Zimbabwe to come and showcase their artistic work.
Inspiring young creatives
Mapondera has made a great impact in the creative industry in Zimbabwe. By using his talents in digital art along with his industry knowledge and entrepreneurial skills, he has proved that art is still very much alive, viable and relevant in Africa, and indeed the world. He has made a mark in the industry by influencing and inspiring young people throughout Zimbabwe and Africa to pursue artistic ventures. One such young person is William Jaravaza.
Jaravaza was tutored by Mapondera in 2012 at the Global Academy and the skills and knowledge he acquired during his time with Mapondera had a great impact on creating a future for him in digital media. He now currently works with award winning visual effect and film studios Double Negative (DNEG) and Frame Store, and some of his work can be seen in the blockbuster films ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ and “Avenger: Endgame”.
Another aspiring artist greatly influenced by Eugene Mapondera is the 3D Animator Pious Nyenyewa. Inspired by Mapondera’s creative style and captivating artwork, Nyenyewa was moved to pursue a career in digital animation and is now currently the Founder and Technical Director of the award-winning national animation studio, Alula.
But Marondera’s impact on the creative industry does not stop with these two individuals. His efforts to make a socio-economic difference in Zimbabwe and Africa through the creative industry have been channelled through his role as a judge in various art competitions, the most notable being the Fast Forward Art: The Future of Work in a Green Economy Competition and the upcoming Resiliart Competition, the first of which took place in 2019 and the second which is set to take place this year.
Eugene Mapondera and the Fast-Forward Competition
In 2019 Mapondera took part in the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) first ever competition of the arts titled “Fast Forward: The Future of Work in a Green Economy”. It invited artists within the country to make use of their artistic skills to illustrate what the challenges brought up by creating a greener economy would look like. Furthermore, the competition provided aspiring artists from all disciplines with all the guidance and knowledge they would need to create sustainable businesses and nurture their own entrepreneurial abilities.
Eugene Ramirez Mapondera made a great contribution to this project as a judge and worked as an instructor during a training programme held at the Mandel Training Centre, on the 5th of December 2019. Mapondera used his years of experience as a digital artist and illustrator to equip various artists with the tools necessary to promote and sell their work and made an effort to inform the young artists on the importance of protecting their intellectual property.
The impact of a greener economy on the world of work would be huge, as sustainable practices and the emergence of new technologies could result in multiple occupations and industries becoming obsolete. But thanks to the endeavours of the ILO and creative artists such as Eugene Mapondera, an effort has been made and is still being made to ensure that the creative industry does not die but remains active and fully alive.
Eugene Mapondera and the Resiliart Competition
However, a greener economy is not the only challenge that the creative industry faces. The current COVID19 global health crisis has made it very apparent that the creative industry is a volatile one and is still very much under threat. With movement being restricted in an effort to avoid spreading the pandemic, access to the cultural has decreased along with the value of the creative industry chain.
However, the organisation UNESCO has prepared an initiative to give artists and cultural professionals a voice during the COVID19 health crisis and this initiative has been given the creative and powerful name Resiliart. Resiliart is a global movement that seeks to raise awareness on the impact of COVID19 on the culture and creative industry and their professionals’ livelihoods, as well as to give established and emerging artists a voice worldwide. But most importantly, to prove to the world that art is resilient and come what may it will thrive.
Mapondera has been invited to judge this contest and it will no doubt prove to be another opportunity for him to showcase his expertise and knowledge in the creative arts industry, as well as enable him to continue contributing to the survival of the creative arts in Africa and making a mark in the global art community.
Eugene Ramirez Mapondera’s skill and ability has been proven time and time again, but the value of his expertise has been solidified by these invitations to judge. The artistic community trusts and values his opinion, and if you look through the work of Kay Media Africa, you can see why.