Child Stars

FAME and fortune are at most every masses dream but unfortunately not everyone can make it a reality and as a result will remain a fantasy. With fame comes responsibility as for fortune, well just like the late Christopher Wallace (widely known as Notorious BIG) said ''The more money you got, the more problems you'll see''.

South Africa has had its fair share of child stars in different medium ranging from Ricardo of ''I love you daddy' fame to Sboniso Dlamini (Msawawa). Having produced such talent it meant progress in the creative sector but the major challenge will always be sustaining them and keeping them at the fore front.

With the introduction of Lil Bow Wow and Justin Bieber abroad and their success I took some time and thought if we are on the same par or we lacking and if indeed we're behind how do we go about catching up? Majority of the stars abroad who entered the industry at a relatively young age and most of them are still in existence.

Nkosinathi Zwane (Mzambiya), Thobi Mkhwanazi, Sphiwe Mtshali, Stephina Zwane, Wright Ngubeni, Mandisa Nakana-Taylor and Sipho Ngwenya (Psyfo) are some of the names that comes to mind when thinking about child stars in our country. Though some are still gracing our screens it baffles me where others faded.

Just what role do casting agencies and record companies play? For one, they expose their budding-stars to the dog-eat-puppy industry, is there any support rendered once they're in the limelight? I wonder; they won't spoon-fed you, that's for sure. The term ''celebrity'' has lost its meaning in our shores, as anyone who is everyone is regarded as a celeb. Nowadays we running short of personalities who can be regarded as role-models and be celebrated in one go. Just what it is that needs to be done in order to restore what was once known as the entertaining, educational and influential field which has now became flashy and boastful about absolutely nothing?

Most of the child stars succumb to pressure and end up taking drugs which lead them astray and destroy their promising careers which our children emulate with a mentality that it is the right thing to do since those they idolise are doing it. Wouldn't it be nice and thoughtful to initiate programs that will nurture our jewels from their up-bringing stage until they are grown up's and can be able to fend for themselves?