(Johnny Dimba. Pic by Val Adamson)
South Africa’s arts fraternity has lost a highly-valued and
much-loved son with the passing on the weekend of musician-poet and arts
activist Johnny Dimba, after a short illness.
Dimba brought to his passion for the arts a finely-tuned
legal mind. According to information on the Ulwazi Sharing Indigenous Knowledge
website, Dimba, a resident of Umlazi, held three degrees in Law.
A specialist in the field of Intellectual Property, he
served on the advisory panels to more than one national minister of Arts and
Culture. However, his passion was for working with aspirant artists on the
ground. He gave unstintingly of his knowledge not only to arts institutions but
to individual artists of all walks of life, sharing with them his passion of
skills impartment, while imbuing them with a spirit of self-empowerment.
Dimba started a business foundation which offered starter
packs to cultural industries, notably in the performing arts. He taught the
basics of what you should do to develop policies. He also approached the
national government but it took ten years to be recognized before he was
invited by Minister Lulu Xingwana to go to Paris.
He then travelled to England in his personal capacity before
he began working with the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers.
He continued tirelessly educating, developing policy, lobbying for the
government to recognize arts and culture as part of poverty alleviation and job
creation.
Top Durban arts publicist, William Charlton-Perkins, says: “On
a personal level, I engaged with Johnny Dimba while serving for a while on the
interim board of the KwaZulu-Natal United Music Industry Association (KUMISA).
I subsequently worked with him while publicizing his innovatively structured Trendsetters
programme for Durban’s Stable Theatre in 2014. I was always struck by this kind
and gentle man’s capacity for listening to others with empathy and
understanding.
“Clearly, here was a man who preferred a hands-on approach
to working with arts practitioners on a one-on-one basis, rather being impeded
by the strictures of red tape that typify government institutions,” he
continues. “A significant thrust of his mission was to enable artists to run
their own careers successfully, and to reap the benefits of their own
creativity. Our sympathies go to his wife and two sons.“
A memorial service in his honour will be held at Durban’s
Emmanuel Cathedral on Thursday, January 22 between 12h00 and 13h00.
Emmanuel Cathedral is situated at 10 Cathedral Road (pass Dr
Yusuf Dadoo Street) as you pass the taxi rank on the
right, there is a short right turn right. The Cathedral is opposite the Fish
Market. Parking is available at Nichole Square Parkade.
Following Thursday’s 12h00 memorial service,
Johnny Dimba’s funeral will take place on Saturday, January 24 at 10h00, also
at Emmanuel Cathedral.
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