Yolanda Mlilo, Sunday News reporter
CRAZY Masters, a vibrant contemporary dance group from Bulawayo’s New Luveve suburb, has encouraged young people to seize control of their future by coming up with their own job opportunities.
Despite limited formal education, the Crazy Masters have carved out a notable presence in the dance industry.
Comprising five dedicated individuals, they have established a strong brand identity, earning accolades such as the Youth Power Group (YPG) Cup in Harare last year and the Zimbabwe Association of Choral and Music Arts (ZACMA) award in 2022.
Their journey exemplifies the power of determination and creativity in shaping one’s destiny.
In an interview with Sunday Life, Crazy Masters dance group member Abimelech Mbonisi Nyathi emphasised the need for youths to create job opportunities for themselves.
“As youths, we normally complain about the shortage of jobs in the country but we are lazy to think about what we can do to earn a living,” said Nyathi.
“However, look at our group, some of us reached Form Four level and some did not but that’s not an excuse for being idle and end up victims of drug and substance abuse, we ought to think of ways to earn a living.”
Nyathi noted that while education is crucial one can also make a living through other disciplines like dancing if they are not that gifted in academics.
He encouraged youths to utilise the Internet to market their skills and earn a living.
On their awards, another group member, Phathisani Ndlovu revealed that they were awarded for being the best dancers at the YPG competition and best newcomer from Bulawayo Province at the ZACMA awards.
“We are two time-defending champions of YPG. We won a ZACMA award in 2022 at Harare. We are a contemporary dance group that we started in 2010. We infuse amapiano, Afro dance, hip-hop and Naija vibes,” said Ndlovu.
“When we started this group, it was a time when we would experience load shedding in 2010 and we would gather as Luveve youths and dance, competing against each other, which is when we all met and decided to form this group.”
Upon realising the different dancing skills which each member possessed the five dancers founded Crazy Masters.
“When we danced, different people were skilled in dancing different dances, we then decided to infuse these dances and form a group of the best five youths from Luveve,” noted Ndlovu.
He revealed that their most memorable experience in the industry was performing during Jah Prayzah ‘s album launch last year.
“We started dancing for free and we realised that as we are unemployed youths dancing could be our source of income,” said Ndlovu.