By Nothando Yolanda Tshuma
A new youth magazine Inthetho was recently launched in Makhanda by Zimbabwean born Nqobani Matthew Dabengwa last week. The magazine, an end result of a vision that was first conceptualized early last year, aims to represent marginalised communities. Influenced by his upbringing in Bulawayo in Zimbabwe where Dabengwa was born, the young entrepreneur said his experience in the third world conservative country exposed him to how people are struggling on the ground. Faced with a lot of economic hardship and other societal struggles, anger and frustration grew and propelled them to use their frustration to create spaces for them to make opportunities. Upon engaging with a lot of fellow creatives around him – he realized that people were using that frustration, anger to create spaces for themselves and other artists who empower other people. Dabengwa is also the founder and director of the brand Echoes of Uhuru.
The brand, Echoes of Uhuru, under which his magazine is exclusively represented and compiled had a lot of influence in the shaping up of this story. Echoes of Uhuru is a platform seeking to echo the idea of freedom to all people in different spheres of life. It actively seeks to engage with and advocate for the voices of marginalized communities, which is what has influenced the magazine.
In putting this issue together, “I had to have a lot of conversations with both with myself and with the spaces surrounding me,” says Dabengwa
“I started shooting, engaging and finding stories that can propel the idea of freedom and what freedom looks like for young, independent artists across different areas of the arts,” he said.
The theme of the first issue is about celebrating Blackness, Art and Freedom.
Dabengwa stated that the reason he chose his first issue to be in Makhanda given that he is originally from Zimbabwe is because, “Makhanda is a town with a lot of creatives in one space doing different things, but all trying to sort of extend the table and lift other people as they rise.”
In addition to the magazine launch, he aspires to hold workshops in different spaces as well, regarding this issue of the magazine.
As the founder of the Intetho Magazine, Dabengwa faced some challenges along the way. These challenges included not having a lot of helping hands and also trying to find a community of people that would help translate the interviews that were conducted in languages other than English. Also, being a Non-profit Magazine, did not make the journey any easier.
“Hindrances that come with creativity is almost always finances.” Says Dabengwa
Why not digital magazine? “It is about taking time to sit down and read without a notification disturbing you therefore I want to maintain the culture of print magazine,” says Dabengwa
Furthermore, Dabengwa states that he is open to expanding the projects that stem from the Intetho magazine into an online series or a gallery to view the images that feature in the magazine digitally.
Inspired by artists like Zoe Modiga, Nina Simone and James Baldwin as well as other contemporary and non-contemporary artists the vison of this magazine came to life.
The first edition is currently written in English, however Dabengwa states that in publications in future he aims to keep the stories in the language that they are told in. Dabengwa further quotes the book written by R.F. Kaung that, “An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.”
“When you translate something, a lot of the originality, a lot of the meaning is lost in that translation,” said Dabengwa.
“Each narrative within the pages is more than just a story; it is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the unyielding quest for freedom. The artists featured in the magazine have opened their hearts, in showing a glimpse of their world where there are has become a beacon of hope and a canvas for their dreams and struggles,” he said.
The magazine can be purchased at R100 a copy by order on the Echoes of Uhuru Instagram page – link/page with specifics will be up on Wednesday evening and I am also working on it being available on local coffee shops too. Delivery is free within the epicentre of Makhanda. Anything outside will have an added courier/transportation charge. Internationally, it can be purchased via EFT (details available on inquiry) at a higher price including courier/shipping fee.
