The Sunday News
Bruce Chimani Sunday Leisure Correspondent
WHILE the rest of the country was still marvelling and perhaps wondering in amazement on what this UMbiko kaMadlenya tsunami which hit the National Arts Merit Awards (Namas) was, Intwasa was busy churning out another epic play, The Taking, to reinforce the city’s dominance on the country’s arts scene.
The Taking takes the audience back into history — to colonisation, liberation, and the land issue — with a clear perspective of land as a national treasure and heritage which also becomes a source of conflict.
Of particular interest in the star-studded cast is unheralded Gift Chakuvinga — a character who tells stories on the history of Zimbabwe, which were passed down to him by his grandmother. Chakuvinga’s face is also familiar because he featured on Namas winner UMbiko kaMadlenya.
Sunday Leisure correspondent Bruce Chimani (BC) caught up with the undocumented yet impressive actor Gift (GC) to get to know him better.
BC: Take us through your journey in the arts? Where did you start and how have you gotten to where you are?
GC: I was introduced to the arts industry by my uncle, Cyprian Tazarurwa, who himself was a theatre director of Iwisa Theatre Project. By then I was 16 and I started by doing radio plays for the then ZBC Radios 2 and 4 which were by then very popular. We ventured into storytelling again with ZBC. I was also introduced to theatre being particularly involved in Aids awareness plays in and around Bulawayo’s industrial companies.
As I gained exposure I began to learn more about theatre I had a short stint with a dance group called Woza Africa but because of my passion for acting, I left the group and continued in pursuit of theatre. I was on the sidelines of theatre, watching, and as I watched other seasoned artistes on stage I learned from them.
It was only in 2006 that Raisedon Baya cast me in his production, The Water Story. That became a defining moment for me in my career.
From then on I worked with various production houses, seasoned artistes and directors in various successful projects. Among these are the god-father of local theatre Cont Mhlanga, Styx Mhlanga, Elton Mjanana, Thabani Moyo, Nelson Mapako and Memory Kumbota just to name a few. Can I hasten to say that working with all these revered artistes and directors has helped me grow so I greatly acknowledge and appreciate their mentoring and guidance over the years.
BC. That’s interesting. But what would you say have been some of your greatest achievements so far?
GC: My greatest achievement so far though I wouldn’t call them “greatest”, as it were, has been being part of the cast of the recent Nama award winning play UMbiko KaMadlenya. I have been again awarded the Best Actor twice in the Intwasa Arts Festivals short story plays competition — and that is always a big deal.
BC: What are some of the productions you have been involved in Gift?
GC: I have been involved in quite a number of productions from television, radio productions and stage. These include, FilmSuku, (2012) ZTV
Mr Perfect, ZTV Radio, Let’s Sit Down & Talk (Homegrown Arts), The Team Stage,The Water Story 2007, (Home Grown Arts)
Critical Moments 2009, The Immigrants, (Home Grown Arts), The Trials of Brother Jero, (Studio X, Home Grown Arts and Siyaya Arts)
Fragile (2010) (Rooftop), Umbiko KaMadlenya, (Intwasa Festval and Bulawayo City Council).
BC: You play interesting roles in The Taking. What do you think of you roles?
GC: In the so many roles I have played in so many productions, I would say this was by far the most challenging as the role entails taking the audience back memory lane to different time zones during the era of land distribution and occupations. I use various storytelling techniques. I also use the various characters that I play in the show to tell a very crucial part of our history as Zimbabweans.
BC: What would you say makes this particular play unique?
GC: What I find more unique about the play is that it tackles a sensitive yet universal story, that is, the land issue. Also, the way the play is presented seeks to run away from the usual conventional way of doing plays. It is a play which can be taken anywhere in the world and still be relevant.
BC: Nice one. So where should we expect you to be in the next few years?
GC: It is hard to say. Speculating with the current situation in the arts industry especially here in Bulawayo is difficult. However, I am still around and if all goes accordingly, I will be having a production house right in the heart of the ghetto and teach the young ones. I am a product of the same concept and wish to give back to the community that way as well. It would also help to see that art should not die a natural death — and by so doing I will be empowering youths to showcase their talents.
BC: Would you tell us a bit of your personal life, age and inspiration? What else do you do besides art?
GC: I am 31 and I was born and bred in Nguboyenja here in Bulawayo. I am single and not quite sure about the searching part at the moment. I am also a Catholic by faith, attended Lozikeyi Primary, Sikhulile High School and City Commercial Training College.
I want to create synergies with artistes from other countries, regionally and internationally creating quality productions and platforms for other artistes who are in the process of exposing themselves.
As an artiste, I am inspired by everything that happens around me, my society, nature, other artistes — whether musicians or actors. I am also inspired by religion, politics, my family, lots of things because being open minded about anything or everything is very important to an individual especially to artistes. It helps to acquire knowledge and wisdom as wisdom is never acquired academically. I am always learning new things everyday and from every artiste that I work or have worked with whether younger or older.
