Award winning children’s book writer ventures into doll making

22 Jan, 2017 - 00:01 0 Views
Award winning children’s book writer ventures  into doll making

The Sunday News

Fortune Tazivinga

Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
THERE is somewhat of a steady progress with diversity in the fashion industry. But when it comes to the unspoken ideals beyond industry walls, the beauty standard of fair skin and straight hair still prevails — especially when it comes to the dolls that girls model their standards on before they even pick up fashion magazines.

From winning an award for her captivating and tantalising children’s books and theatre play Inhlanhla, multi-talented Bulawayo born Fortune Tazvivinga hasn’t stopped pushing herself to the limit.

For the past couple of months Tazvivinga has been engrossed in a project, which she believes will change the perception of many people’s lives, in Zimbabwe and the world.

She recently launched her own collection of dolls — Rudo and Thandi that are sleek like barbies, with fun outfits.

The dolls are pretty and appealing, especially for little girls who have rarely been given a black doll to play with.

Sunday Life senior reporter Peter Matika (PM) had a chance to chat with the multi-talented award winning Fortune Tazvivinga (FT) about her latest venture.

PM: It’s been quite a while, what have you been up to?

FT: Indeed it has been. Well, I have been quite pre-occupied with my latest project, which is doll making. I am also working on a show about the dolls called Zimbodollsville.

PM: That’s quite interesting and also a handful. What type of dolls are you making?

FT: They are a customised range of dolls, similar to the barbie doll, only that these ones are black. They too are almost the same size but are slightly different in terms of height and size. They have more flesh as I envision them to be appealing to Africans.

They are themed on black ethnicity and they encourage black people to be proud of who they are and also for African children to play with toys they can relate with.

PM: You are quite an innovative person. How did you come up with such an idea?

FT: Basing on my children’s books I really wanted to develop something that would illustrate the tales practically.

PM: What are they made off?

FT: They are made of plastic and other recycled material.

PM: How do you manufacture them?

FT: I make them from recycled material and produce them as per order. They go for $15 a piece. The dolls come with five different outfits, which are African themed.

PM: So you are into educating kids and also saving the earth. You are quite the super woman.

FT: I’m flattered. Back to the dolls, I am also working on a stop motion show, which should be about 12 minutes long and the dolls are affordable to everyone. I gave them ethnic names so that Africans can relate with them.

PM: How did you come up with the idea to make these dolls?

FT: Last year I was part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, where I was part of a huge group of Africans that had the opportunity to visit America on an entrepreneur and educational vocation. That’s where we got to meet Barack Obama, the outgoing American president. We spent about six weeks there and we were all over the country at different universities.

During my stay in America I was based at Cambridge College in Massachusetts, with Harare-based film maker Joe Njagu and Petronella Muzondo. I was under the business entrepreneurship track. During the fellowship we lived five minutes from the famous Harvard University and 30 minutes away from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Harvard threw us a reception and we got a chance to visit Google headquarters.

PM: Not only are you multi-talented but well-travelled and connected too. How then do you distribute the dolls and also production-wise do you manufacture them in large numbers or as per order?

FT: I work as per order, as you know with the harsh economy one can’t afford to have excess stock.

PM: How would you describe yourself professionally for those that haven’t the slightest idea of who you are?

FT: Not to brag, I have eight children’s books, The River God UNyaminyami, Once upon an Earth Mono and Zuva, My Zimbabwean Farm Friends, which is a pocket book series, comprising six books.

I have done two films — Inhlanhla and Fool’s Paradise. I also hosted a TV Magazine show called Unscripted ZW, which aired on ZBC.

@peterkmatika

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