Maseko nominated for Freedom to Create Prize
06 Nov 2010
Zimbabwe
Fine artist Owen Maseko has been shortlisted for the 2010 international Freedom to Create Award, which in its inaugural year was won by renowned playwright, Cont Mhlanga. The award carries a US$50 000 first prize.
When Maseko was arrested for his exhibition in which he expressed the horrors of the Gukurahundi through paintings, graffiti and 3D installations, in March this year, there were some who felt he had been too blunt, that he could have been abstract and eluded the whip of censorship but others commented that sometimes we must do the obviously ordinary thing to have an extraordinary impact and for the world to take note.
Maseko, who was arrested and charged with violating Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Reform and Codification) Act, which punishes anyone who insults or undermines the authority of the President, was released from custody but his exhibition was banned.
Motivational speaker and preacher Mensa Otabil once said, "When you want to be a leader you have to stop moving with the crowd." In short, conformity fences people in the realm of mediocrity without them being aware of it. When one breaks from a crowd and walks a path that has not been walked before, they have set themselves on a lonely path to results that others cannot achieve.
Maseko broke away from the crowd and is walking such a path. He and his wife have lamented, “Sometimes we feel abandoned by the very people we thought would stand up for this sort of thing,” they said. “For instance, not a single one of the politicians in the MDC has spoken up against the banning of the exhibition.”
Maseko has been shortlisted for the Main Prize along with seven other people/groups from around the world, Al-Bugaa Theatre Troupe, Jean Bernard Bayard, Kabul Dreams, K-Mu Théâtre, Lynsey Addario, Salome and Wendy Champagne. The Main Prize is open to artists or groups whose participants are over the age of 18. The other categories are the Youth Prize and the Imprisoned Artist Prize.
If Maseko makes it to the top three he will be eligible for one of the three prizes in the main category; US$50000, US$15000 and US$10000.
The winners will be announced in three weeks time on Friday November 26 at a ceremony to be held at the Salah El Din Citadel in Cairo, Egypt.
