Emotional Trend:Histories of the Tonga people

Tapfuma Gutsa, Tsitsi Mariwo and Saki Mafundikwa are amongst researchers and artists whose recent work has been inspired by the Tonga people. Tapfuma Gutsa is conducting intensive research on a number of elements, chief among them, the creative motifs and craft behind the Binga Baskets.

Tsitsi Mariwo is scouting to understand the level of knowledge of the Tonga women on their Intellectual Property Rights while Saki Mafundikwa is making a film documentary tracking indigenous knowledge systems of the Basilwizi, the great river people. Zimbabwe has a lot to learn from the findings these projects.

Is this what’s happening in Heaven? Rest in Peace Andy Brown…what do you think?

Please note the author of this article is anonymous

Rest in Pis ANDY BROWN“

Andy Brown asvika zvakanaka, uyezve asangana naIgwe Tongai Moyo Dhewa! Asi dhewa vakatyamara chaizvo ndokuti ” ko iwe Andy wauya nguvai?” Andy abva angoti “Ahaaaaa shamwari zvakangooma” apedza abva abvunza kuti” ” ko Mashakada arikupi?” Zvikanzi naDhehwa ” enda paconer apo uchamuona aripo, panana John Banda, Mukadota, Mutirowafanza ,Jari na Parrafin varikuactor madrama!”

Andy asvikapo abva a…wona Mashakada atova negumbo rechokwadi vaMashakada ndokuti ” ahhh wateverawo? Ndanga nditori naMarko Sibanda na Paul Matavire Doctor Love, asi vazotevera Biater Mangetha na Jek Madondo vapfura  izvezvi, bt kana uchida kuona ” Leonard Dembo, Simon Chimbetu¡ Solomon Schuza, na James Chimombe enda apo parikutambwa nhabvu nana Leny Gwata, Francis Shonhai nana Blessing Makunike,” saka nguva dzasvika Andy Brown panhandare paya aona chikwata chiri tii!

Zimbabwean Arts and Culture in India: Hatityei Mtukwa

Hatitye Mutukwa is young man who is passionate about arts he was born and bred in Mbare where he attended primary and high school and took part in Chipawo activities at Chitsere Primary School.  He has been working and performing with Chipawo since his primary education and now works as an arts educator, training Chipawo children.

Hatityei is a member of New Horizon Theatre Company for Chipawo graduates and has been part of many productions with the Companythrough the Chipawo annual Christmas show;In Praise of Africa’s Children, Beautiful Zimbabwe and Mutambo Wapanyika a play by a Spanish writer.

The Culture Fund facilitated Hatityei’s travel to India to attend the International Children’s Festival of Performing Arts (ICFPA) held annually in India,  through the purchase of a return ticket to India for the festival which  is hosted by Ryan Foundation. The foundation works to  to “create unparalleled standards of arts education across the globe”.

Rest in Peace Andy Brown

The Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust would like to convey its deepest condolences to the late Andy Brown’s family on the sad and untimely passing of the talented musician. Andy Brown died in the early evening hours on Friday 16 March at Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare after a bout of pneumonia.
Born in 1962 in Mberengwa the musician moved to Bulawayo and then Harare to further his studies.

Through his career which spanned over 20 years Andy performed with bands that included the Rusike Brothers, Grabb and Ilanga before forging his solo career and later forming his own band Andy Brown and the Storm.

New Horizon Theatre Company (Chipawo zimbabwe) artists’ preview of “The most Wonderful thing of All”

A play developed by the cast, based on questioning the ideas and events in the famous play by Henrik Ibsen, “A doll’s house”

The play asks what would happen and how would people in zimbabwe react if a woman did what the central character, Norah, did in “a doll’s house”, namely leaving her husband, home and children in order to ‘find herself’?  Also how would a Zimbabwean man react? Could he love her enough to understand?

All artists are invited to attend a special preview performance at the Gallery Delta at 3pm, Sunday, 18th march.
Admission free for artists.

Happy Women’s Day

Since 2007 the Culture Fund of Zimbabwe Trust through Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) Programme funds has been working with women led projects with at least 42 % of total grants made going towards projects led by women or incorporating then into leadership roles. This is a deliberate move to streamline gender equality into the distribution of technical and financial support in the arts and culture sector and at the same time empowering women led households into being  financially  independent and sustained.

International Women’s Day originally called International Working Women’s Day, is marked on March 8 every year. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women’s economic, political and social achievements. (wikipedia)

African Traditional Religious practises ending?

Cultural diversity and historical experiences reflect various forms of religious practices endowed in many people. Zimbabwe is shared by diverse populace that is exposed to different religious ways during their upbringing. African Traditional Religion, Christianity, Islamic, Buddhism, Rastafarian, Hinduism and Satanism are only components of the complex whole of religions that make up cultural and belief systems of Zimbabweans.