Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE dynamic spirit of Zimbabwean theatre echoed across borders last week as Bulawayo’s musical production, I Wasn’t Built to Break, captivated audiences at Malawi’s Theatre Renaissance Cabaret (TRC) Festival.
Held from July 25 to 27, the festival brought together global theatre practitioners, and among them, Zimbabwe’s Sindiso Phiri and Sithandazile “Um’Africakazi” Dube took centre stage. The pair — writer/director Phiri and performer Um’Africakazi from Bulawayo — showcased their acclaimed production at venues including Kumbali Castle, Madsoc Theatre, and Kachere Women’s Prison in Lilongwe, weaving Zimbabwean narratives into Malawi’s theatrical tapestry.
The play, which premiered in 2023 at Bulawayo’s Hillside Dams Conservancy, was one of only 17 productions selected from 79 global applications across 15 countries — an impressive feat that speaks volumes about the calibre of talent emerging from Zimbabwe’s cultural capital.
I Wasn’t Built to Break, explores the lived experiences of women, tackling sensitive themes such as sexual and physical abuse, infertility and infidelity, particularly within religious spaces.
The performance opens with a moving rendition of Irene Cara’s Out Here on My Own, setting a tone of vulnerability and resilience that resonates throughout.
Um’Africakazi portrays Hannah, a Biblical figure grappling with infertility, while Phiri plays a battered woman.
The full cast also includes musician Mimmie Tarukwana, who provides the musical thread, and Rachel Ngwarai, known musically as “Zarae”, who plays a conflicted pastor’s wife.
Phiri expressed her excitement at being part of the festival.
“I was extremely excited when we were accepted into the festival, as the idea was always to take this show on tour.
This marks our first tour, and we hope many more will follow.”
Reflecting on one of their most emotional performances, held at Kachere Women’s Prison, Sindiso said, “We were honoured to perform for the women’s prison. This is a female story told by females, and we hope it provides hope to the inmates — that they weren’t built to break.”
She shared how audiences were visibly moved by the emotionally charged storytelling, with many shedding tears and expressing how deeply the play resonated with them.
“Day one was awesome; all the women who gave us feedback said the production was very emotional. That makes me happy — to know that people are truly feeling the stories being told in the show.”
However, despite the honour of being selected, the creatives faced major challenges, particularly financial ones, that nearly derailed their international ambitions.
“We applied for funding from various institutions, but unfortunately, none came through. We had to self-fund this trip, and sadly, this meant cancelling a planned tour to Morocco in early July,” said Phiri.
The financial constraints also meant the production could only tour as a two-woman show, despite originally being designed for four cast members. Yet the duo adapted with determination, doubling up on roles while preserving the integrity and emotional depth of the narrative. – Follow on X @MbuleloMpofu
