Lighting the Stage: Umtali Saidi’s Story of Cultur...

Lighting the Stage: Umtali Saidi’s Story of Culture, Community, and Change

Witness Runodada-

Zim Now Reporter

“I grew up in Trojan Mine, and from an early age, I found myself deeply fascinated by the arts,” says Umtali Saidi, a respected arts promoter and community development leader. “I attended shows by legends like Safirio Madzikatire (Mukadota), Paul Matavire, Jairosi Jiri, James Chimombe, John Chibadura, and the Marxist Brothers. Their performances shaped my vision.”

That early exposure sowed the seeds of a lifelong passion. At just 16, Umtali began organizing film shows in local communities with his late friend, Knowledge Tembo, who owned a film projector. “We would book small venues, do our own advertising, and fill the spaces. It was fun and exciting—I was still in Form Three,” he recalls.

After completing secondary school, Umtali held several jobs—first at Edgars Stores in Bindura, then at Freda Rebecca Gold Mine. But it was during his time as a credit controller at Tedco Management Services, popularly known as Nyorenyore, that his calling became clear.

“That’s when I started doing events,” he says. His first major event was the Miss Madziva pageant at Chihuri Gardens. This was followed by Miss Mashonaland Central, and eventually, he became the licence holder for the Miss Tourism Zimbabwe pageant under the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority during the tenure of Karikoga Kaseke.

In 2010, Umtali launched the Bindura Arts Festival Foundation (BAFF). “I wanted to create a platform where upcoming artists could showcase their talent and grow professionally,” he says. Since its inception, BAFF has become one of Zimbabwe’s largest celebrations of cultural diversity and the arts.

“We’ve hosted almost every major artist—Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Alick Macheso, The Charambas, Slizer from Botswana, Cephas Mashakada, Madiz—the list goes on.”

Beyond the festival, Umtali expanded into school talent searches, discovering stars like Shamiso Nduru, who now features in the soap Kuchina: The Genesis, and also worked with the late Prince Musarurwa. Nyaradzo Nhongonhema and Elizabeth Ganda—the latter placing fourth in Miss Tourism Zimbabwe—also emerged from his Miss Tourism Mash Central pageants.

As his influence grew, so did the recognition. BAFF became a development partner for Mashonaland Central, especially focusing on youth empowerment. One standout initiative was an anti-child marriage campaign in Ward 28 of Shamva, supported by philanthropist Ken Sharpe and WestProp Holdings. The programme equipped girls with vocational training in clothing technology, poultry, and farming—and paid school fees for those who had never advanced beyond Grade 7.

Mentored by Simbarashe Kadye of WestProp, Umtali secured funding from the Culture Fund Trust of Zimbabwe, launching the Arts and Culture in Action project. It offered workshops, talent shows, and studio recordings at Makumbe Productions and Nash TV.

“We discovered raw gems—Roarman Nyakasaka, a visually impaired artist from Mbire; 10-year-old Sam Jaji from Shamva; Ruyamuro Mbira Group from Guruve; poet Joy Sithole from Mazowe; and Master T, a dynamic dancehall artist from Shamva,” he says. The project was funded by the European Delegation to Zimbabwe.

Another milestone was founding the Mash Central Achievers Awards to honour outstanding contributors in the province. Umtali himself received a Special Recognition Award for Arts, Entertainment, and Community Development.

His collaboration with Alick Macheso and Orchestra Mberikwazvo remains strong. “I’ve organized many of their shows in Bindura,” he shares. “Recently, Alick donated groceries and a water tank to Kutenda Orphanage in Masembura—an event I helped coordinate.”

Looking ahead, Umtali’s vision is growing. “We want to lobby the government to increase funding for the arts sector and establish arts and cultural centres in all eight districts of Mashonaland Central,” he says. “Creatives need proper environments to thrive.”

His story is more than a personal journey—it’s a testament to the transformative power of the arts. “The arts gave me a voice,” Umtali reflects. “Now, I want to help others find theirs.”