LUSAKA Singer, model and content creator Ruth Mukanga, popularly known as Ruth Ronnie, has expressed frustration with Zambia’s entertainment industry, saying it continues to limit the growth of multi-talented creatives.
“The entertainment industry does support different talents, but I think it is not that much because people mostly focus on one thing,” she said.
Mukanga noted that public perception often confines entertainers to a single identity, making it difficult to fully explore multiple creative paths.
Despite her concerns, she said she does not feel pressured to restrict herself, emphasizing that her decision to branch out is driven by passion.
“For me, I feel okay with venturing into other stuff because I love what I do. I don’t really feel any pressure to stick to more than one talent,” she said.
She added that audiences are gradually becoming more receptive to versatile entertainers.
“I think audiences in Zambia are ready to embrace multi-talented entertainers like myself,” Mukanga said, noting that both established and emerging creatives can benefit from diversifying their skills.
However, influencer and content creator Rocky Mbewe said audience expectations remain a significant barrier, as consumers tend to engage with what they are already familiar with.
“Most people consume what you mostly present to them, so it’s really hard to introduce other talents,” he said.
Mbewe said that while opportunities exist within the digital space, success depends on building a clear identity and a loyal following.
“Opportunities as a content creator are there if you create your own community and style of creation. Most things we put out there are what people want to see,” he said.
He added that consistency and persistence are essential in shifting audience perceptions.
“Persistence in what you want to showcase to people is key,” Mbewe said.
The contrasting views highlight ongoing tensions within Zambia’s entertainment sector, as creatives navigate the balance between specialization and diversification in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.