The darker the berry, the sweeter the struggle.

Words by Alex Gwaze (Curator)
Facilitated by Alex Gwaze & Zaza Muchemwa (Director & Writer)

We are taught not to “judge people by the colour of their skin, but the content of their character”. But in the creative arts industry, African women still face a persistent barrier to success – blackness. Colourism’s stubborn grip on the creative industries persists, despite trailblazers like Alek Wek and Lupita Nyong’o shattering the glass ceilings. Matthew Knowles’ recent remarks on Kelly Rowland’s career trajectory served as a stark reminder of this pigment-based barrier to popularity. But, that’s in the West. To understand, how far reaching this problem is on the continent, I sought out two ‘black beauties’ I know, whose personal experiences and stories might illuminate the ways in which Colourism is affecting the contemporary African arts industry.

Sihle and Fransisca have met on and off at events and in their hood, so they had no problem, talking about bleaching blackness, opportunities, kasi stories, bullying, journey mercies, exams, proposals, and borrowing money.

FRANSISCA: So, Alex says he saw something about Beyonce’s dad saying Kelly Rowland had a harder time being more successful in the industry because of her darker complexion.

SIHLE: Yeah, he told me (laughs).

FRANSISCA: So that’s one of the reasons he wanted us to talk about Colourism in the Zim creative arts or something (laughs).

SIHLE: (laughs). Yeah that sounds about right. That’s also what he said to me. To be honest, if we have to talk about it, let me say, I hated my complexion until form 3. Before that, when I was in primary school, they used to bully me and call me names like “umnyama njenge lahle (charcoal)”, some would call me “mtshwankela”. But from form 3 or so, that’s when I started getting compliments from some of my female teachers admiring that I’m a “black beauty”.

FRANSISCA: Same here, I used to feel uncomfortable with my skin as well and l would always wear lighter make up. However now it’s different l feel so comfortable and content with my skin because l grew to understand that self love and self acceptance is the best thing that can ever happen to anyone. Radiating positivity starts within and reflects outside.

SIHLE: Yes, now I’m just so much in love with my complexion. I think it’s because people around me helped me gain my confidence especially my aunt, she would constantly compliment how beautiful I am and tell me to never think of bleaching. She’s always been concerned about creams I use on my face. I think we individually got to a point of understanding that It’s all about confidence, hence we now comfortable in our own skin.

FRANSISCA: To be honest with you, confidence for me started on the last quarter of 2023. It happened when I changed my make up routine. Believe me doing makeup everyday is no kid’s play. I used to feel less beautiful without it, however l grew to accept myself the way I am over time. When I didn’t have the time to doll up. And the best thing is l started on some skincare routine, that has made my skin look and feel great. I believe a good skin routine, especially using skincare products, changed everything honestly. l felt more beautiful and started embracing myself.

SIHLE: I’ve also had people telling me to have a skin care routine to enhance the glow of my complexion. I should have one really. I use certain products but I don’t have a routine as of yet.

FRANSISCA: That’s hard to believe considering you are always acting on stage or TV. How has been your experience as an actress in the industry?

SIHLE: In terms of Colourism?

FRANSISCA: No, let’s move past that mess, unless it’s relevant (laughs).

SIHLE: Okay, okay (laughs). In general, it hasn’t been an easy one, especially being an actress from Bulawayo. There aren’t much opportunities so I have been gunning at opportunities from outside with hopes that I might get the right exposure and move forward from there.

FRANSISCA: It’s the same for me. I commute every week to be on radio from Bulawayo to Gweru. It’s hectic, trust me, because you’re always on the road, and always praying for journey mercies everytime. It’s stressful knowing being always in transit and having to catch up on what you missed in one city and another.

SIHLE: Think of it as being temporary. When you are done with you studies you won’t have to commute. And think of it as if you are on tour (laughs). Don’t stress because in this industry when an opportunity comes you have to grab it with both hands without hesitation.

FRANSISCA: Thank you for the positivity! You’ve been on tour yourself. Harare, Botswana, Bulawayo, Lupane, you making moves. Which do you prefer theatre or film?

SIHLE: I can’t really say because for me, it all started with theatre, then I did short films and studied film at University. And I recently acted in “Choices”, check it out.

FRANSISCA: Wow, when did it all begin then?

SIHLE: You want the whole long origin story (laughs).

FRANSISCA: You know us radio people can hold a conversation all by ourselves, but it’s good to have someone to talk to (laughs).

SIHLE: (laughs) So this is like my interview. I’m honoured. Well, it all started in 2016 when I was in high school. I was approached by the drama matron to attend an “isiphiwo sami” workshop just to sing because I was in the school choir. I agreed and when we got there we were divided into groups to brainstorm and come up with ideas. Some where in groups of actors and came up with a short script inline with the theme. I was in the group of singers composing a song to accompany the acting. I’ve forgotten what really happened that day but I ended up acting, I was so nervous and I was doubting myself so much. But when we went back to school my matron was quite impressed and in preparation for the “isiphiwo sami” competitions I had to be the one enlightening others about everything we did at the workshop and what was expected of us, as we created our own school play. In the end I got the lead role but I couldn’t proceed to the competitions because I had registered to write my exams in June and my teachers where telling me this drama club of yours will make you fail because it really took much of my time, and I was kinda trailing behind in prep for the exams.

FRANSISCA: Interesting, so early on in your life you had to choose between academia and the arts. Please continue.

SIHLE: (laughs) You are a good listener (laughs). Okay so what happened next is, I dropped out the drama club for the year but when I returned, when I started my A’ levels, the matron came to me and asked me to join the club again and I did. They gave me the lead role under the theme ‘breaking the silence’ and that particular play is the one that got me nominated for the BAAs.

FRANSISCA: Wow, what a great conclusion. Right out the gate your first acting gig landed you a nomination at the biggest awards in the city. Is that the reason you decided to study film at Uni?

SIHLE: Well it sort of cleared the confusion of what I wanted to do career wise. At home they once wanted me to do sciences (yet I was very bad in Maths and average in science). So I just stuck to my arts subjects. When I had passed my A’levels I bumped into a classmate of mine in town and we just chatted for a bit and she told me she was coming from applying at Lupane State University for film and I was surprised that there’s actually a program like that. The following day I borrowed money from a friend of mine and went on to apply because I just felt it was what I wanted to do and never in a day in those 4 years did I regret anything, even the support from home was just amazing!

FRANSISCA: Now I understand why you were telling me to grab every opportunity with both hands.

SIHLE: How about you, tell me your story. How did it begin for you.

FRANSISCA: Well for me it’s passion, l grew up listening to radio and developed interest in it. Funny thing is that l thought l was going to be a TV presenter first then slide to radio. Anyway, after A’level l realized that l want to do radio, that’s after l had featured on a show on Star Fm. So basically that’s it. My love for media, also kind of started from an unexpected opportunity.

SIHLE: You also studying Journalism at NUST?

FRANSISCA: Yes, I love radio, but I don’t want to be fixated on one thing. I want to be a multi-media personality type. I think Oprah also started on radio, then did TV presenting, now she runs her own network. But I know I’ll miss radio if I leave it for too long.

SIHLE: What do you love the most about radio?

FRANSISCA: What l enjoy the most about radio is that l get to express myself and not to mention the emotional connection that comes with being part and parcel with the audience. The feeling is unmatched. I would be lying if l say there is something l hate about radio, though a lot of people think being alone in studio can be lonely, which is not entirely true. There is nothing to hate about radio well for me because it’s what l have always wanted to do.

SIHLE: How free are you? Do you have to play certain artists music or …

FRANSISCA: No! (laughs) I play anything on my slot. Well l don’t have a particular genre l like to play. Radio taught me to be diverse because what you like might not be what the audience like so l grew to appreciate all genres. Ohh yes wait! There is something I forgot that I like a lot about radio. l like the privacy. No one knowing how l look like or how old l am (laughs). And you, what you love about film?

SIHLE: My favourite experience as an actress is always being on stage because I am naturally a quiet person, my voice is too low naturally, and some would say I’m too reserved for an artist. But when I’m on stage I get to challenge myself vocally and get to be as free as I can possibly be, embracing other characters. And, with film. I do enjoy watching films but I only knew watching them on my own. Through participating at the Varsity Film expo and at Uni, I got to have a professional feel of it watching films and getting to hear other people’s opinions about them. It actually helped open up my mind and improved my analysis of films and improved my acting because I know there are real critics out there scrutinizing your performance.

FRANSISCA: What I like about film now is how diverse the stories are. We now seeing ourselves more on TV and seeing real kasi stories. There should be more stories about our hood, Nketa on TV. We’re are a different kind of breed (laughs).

SIHLE: I agree with you. Nketa is different and personally, I think people love kasi stories because people love stories about struggles. And most of us from the hood are exposed to a lot of them struggles. I’m not saying people from the suburbs don’t have their own challenges, but ours seem a bit more interesting to tell (laughs).

FRANSISCA: Everything happens in the hood, we’re are like one big family, individually telling different stories all at once.

SIHLE: Do you have any crazy stories from being on radio?

FRANSISCA: (laughs) Oh yes! Let me tell you. I had one crazy caller, ohh man, l can never forget it. I was taking calls on air and a listener called and guess what they did, they proposed their love for me! On air! Which was kind of crazy to me and a bit scary. However, l really appreciated the love of my fans, it’s great when you connect on that level to the point someone feels some type of way about you without even meeting you in person. Do you have an stories?

SIHLE: Not a crazy story but one I want to share. It’s one of those kasi stories. When I first started studying. Someone once told me you should never mix passion and school especially in the arts. That my acting would become academic and not inspired. I was making a mistake. But I never felt like I did any mistake making the two one because I did not only study screen acting, I gained more knowledge and experience in other fields within the industry like video editing, operating the camera, directing and even writing scripts. I grew so much from embracing my talents and formalizing aspects of it. You know, opportunities for women are opening up and I would like to believe that with time it will get better. Specifically, looking at Zim if we had more women part of the crew, directing and even editing it would be even better. I think sometimes some people in the hood don’t appreciate how school can advance your natural talent. People think you wasting money on learning a creative subject.

FRANSISCA: In every space there are always those with limited vision who can only see the outlines of the full picture in black and white. I agree with you. If we want more opportunities as women in the creative arts we have to learn as many skills as we can and go into different roles. That’s also how we tell more authentic colourful stories about our experiences. Thanks for sharing that story.

SIHLE: We must create more room for ourselves in this industry. Just had an idea. We should do a podcast with other women!

FRANSISCA: I totally agree!

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Follow Fransisca @fransisca_musheche and Sihle @siemasuku996.