Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
RESIDENTS of Victoria Falls are set to benefit from new opportunities in the creative sector through the launch of an initiative offering lessons in theatre, the arts and film production.
The African Foreign Languages, Arts and Cultures Centre (Aflacc) is committed to helping individuals of all ages unlock opportunities through language learning, creative skills training and cultural empowerment.
The organisation was founded by filmmaker and German language consultant Fortune “Massie” Tazvivinga, who boasts a rich track record in the creative industry.
Massie, a National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) winner in the Outstanding Children’s Book category for her 2012 publication The River God uNyaminyami, said the initiative aims to grow Victoria Falls’ cultural heritage while equipping residents with practical creative skills.
“Many people here rely heavily on tourism for survival. By offering training in acting, directing, set design, scriptwriting, film production and even children’s literature, we are creating new pathways for residents to explore careers and share their stories with the world,” said Massie.
The creative, who began teaching German in 2011 after returning from a cultural exchange programme in Germany and Austria — where she worked as an Au Pair —said Aflacc seeks to blend language, culture and the arts into a sustainable hub of creativity for Victoria Falls.
Massie’s credibility is backed by a strong background: she was a 2012 Nama nominee for her film Inhlanhla, and a Nama winner for The River God uNyaminyami. In 2016, she was selected for the Mandela Washington Fellowship under the Young African Leaders Initiative.
At AFLACC, she is supported by a team of creatives, including Desmond Admind Ntini (arts administration and PR), Lynos Sibanda (traditional dance and arts coordinator), Tichaoana Terrence Chibafa (volunteer and chef), Richard “R10” Masuku (music coordinator), Simbarashe Sagide (theatre coordinator), and Barbara Phiri Mpofu (project advisor).
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