Musician Jimmy Nevis has added his voice to those condemning gender inequality in the South African music industry.
In a statement shared with TshisaLIVE, Jimmy has opened up about his experiences and observations as he partnered with Vuma's My Community Connects to highlight inequality in the music industry.
The 7764 hit song maker said strong women, like his manager, mother and sister, each played a crucial role in shaping various aspects of his life and continue to influence his career. “My sister was the first musician in the family and taught me how to play the piano and compose music. She’s why I started exploring this career,” says Nevis.
The singer said that while he attributes his musical abilities to his sister, he owes his strong business management skills to his mom. He also recalls how his mother helped him blur the gender lines and allowed him to realise that women can be just as strong, if not stronger, than their male counterparts.
“My mom was such a strong and independent woman in our home, and the fact that she was the breadwinner while my father was a pastor didn’t threaten him. On the contrary, he gave her the space to become a success not only in the boardroom, but also as mother, wife and leader in our community,” he says.
The singer says there shouldn’t be an excuse for the continued marginalisation of women in the industry. He points to other sectors in the country that have been able to introduce policies that contribute to inclusivity by placing women in key decision-making roles, saying the music industry should do the same.
“I realise this change will take time, but I'm glad we're already starting to see a collective effort across sectors to address this growing issue through initiatives like Vuma's My Community Connects. These initiatives help young women looking to enter the music industry identify and work with strong female mentors in the sector, who can help guide their careers and navigate this challenging environment,” he says.
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.