adminPaul Brickhill, the luminary founder of Zimbabwe’s busiest and most well known arts and culture hub, The Book Café, who is battling throat cancer, is responding well to treatment in Johannesburg South Africa.
Brickhill was once hospitalised in the capital but due to his condition, had to be transferred to the neighbouring country.
Tomas Brickhill, Paul’s eldest son and a popular multi-talented artiste in his own right, said his father has been in South Africa for the past three weeks.
“My father was transferred to South Africa for advanced treatment three weeks ago and I was told he was responding well to treatment. As of now I do not know because I have not spoken to him for the past two weeks and will know when he gets back,” he said.
He said once his father is finished with the treatment, they will be making arrangements to bring him back home.
Tomas said if all goes according to plan, his father will be returning back in the country next Wednesday.
Musicians, to show their solidarity with 56-year-old Brickhill, held a rainbow presentation of great music at the Book Cafe last month.
As Creative Director of the Book Café, Brickhill has overseen the growth of the venue as a space for not just arts and culture, but for members civil society to engage on various issues including democracy, free speech and governance.
Before he ventured into supporting the arts Brickhill was a foot soldier in the ZAPU military wing (ZIPRA) during the armed struggle against the Rhodesian government.
He was later stationed in the UK where he worked as a spy for the liberation movement.
After independence, he moved back to Zimbabwe and started Grassroots Books in 1981. This was the foundation of what was to become the Book Café.
He is also a musician, and played with a band called Luck Street Blues, before becoming a full time arts administrator. – Zimbo Jam.
Online Reporter