Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
For the past 16 years, teacher and arts patron Bridget Mkhwananzi has quietly shaped the future of local theatre. She has dedicated her life to helping students appreciate, understand and eventually fall in love with the arts.
Mkhwananzi is widely regarded as one of the most influential contributors to grassroots theatre in Bulawayo. Many of the young thespians making waves on stage credit her for giving them their first script, their first role and, most importantly, their first belief in themselves. Through her hands, a steady stream of talent has entered the arts space, each carrying a piece of her guidance.
Her own story began in Trenance suburb, where she grew up before heading to JZ Moyo High School for her A-level studies.
“Acting is a calling that I started appreciating in high school. Back at Trenance Primary and later at Minda High, teachers would invite me to join the drama club because they saw potential in me. But at the time, I shrugged it off as I simply didn’t believe in myself.
“It was only when I got to JZ Moyo for my Advanced Level studies that I finally decided to give it a try. Since then, I’ve never looked back. I fell in love with the stage that choosing a career in this path felt natural,” said Mkhwananzi.
Not every parent easily accepts a child’s decision to pursue acting, a path many still dismiss as “unprofessional”. But for Mkhwananzi, the story was different as her parents offered her the support.
“To a certain extent, my parents were supportive of my craft. They helped me with costumes and even bought clothes for different characters when I needed them. But when I decided to study Drama at Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa, they started having reservations.
“I think they were comfortable with it at school level because they never imagined I would choose it as a profession. But they never gave up on me. They stood by me and supported me until I made it,” she said.
After graduating, Mkhwananzi returned home and joined Gifford High School as an arts teacher. There, she poured her expertise, guiding students into the world of theatre and acting. At first, her team struggled, losing most of the competitions they entered.
With patience, practice and persistence, her students began to bloom, eventually becoming a force to be reckoned with in local school drama circles, including the Nash drama competitions and the Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo schools drama category.
During her years at the school, Mkhwananzi takes pride in having groomed exceptional students who have since gone on to shine on international stages. Among her protégés is Norbert Makoche, who has won several local honours, including the Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA) and the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama), distinguishing himself both as an actor and a director. She also nurtured Elton Sebekhona Maqhoba, an actor and scriptwriter who is now building a thriving theatre career in Europe.
For Mkhwananzi, watching her former students rise beyond the classroom and onto global stages remains one of her greatest rewards.
Now a teacher at St Augustine’s Catholic College, she says she has no plans of slowing down. Her mission in the local theatre industry is to continue touching young lives, nurturing talent, and giving children the confidence to grow into their calling.
“Art and teaching are inseparable. Art is used to entertain, educate, and raise awareness about topical issues such as drugs and child abuse. So I use my gift to teach about life and its obstacles through the arts.
“At my current school, I’ve introduced drama and theatre as part of the curriculum. Our drama club has become a way of continuing my passion, while also helping the young ones realise their dreams. I know that I’m grooming students who’ll be the best actors, scriptwriters, and directors, because I believe that art should continue to live on,” she said.
Her current crop of thespians also appears to be on the right path. Their latest production was crowned Outstanding Theatre Production at this year’s KwaNtuthu Comedy Festival. Mkhwananzi herself was honoured at the festival, receiving recognition as an Outstanding Patron and director.
With all the experience she has gained and the years she has invested in the craft, Mkhwananzi believes she has done her part. Now, she says, it is time for her students to take centre stage, to compete, grow and shine in the local theatre and acting spaces.
“I’ve won several accolades. I was named Outstanding Director at the Nash drama competitions, and in 2017, I received the Outstanding Arts Educator award at the BAAs. I believe I’ve empowered many students with lifelong skills that have opened real career opportunities. Most of them have become award-winning thespians and have gone on to dominate international stages.
“Watching them reach greater heights makes me feel content — like I’m doing God’s work and staying true to my calling,” said Mkhwananzi.
