Bulawayo actor Chikavinga scoops award

Joel Tsvakwi, Sunday Life correspondent
BULAWAYO born prolific actor Gift Chakuvinga this year scooped the outstanding actor award during the 15th edition of the National Arts Merit Awards (Nama) held in Harare recently.

A thrilled Chakuvinga told Sunday Life that the award signified the potency Bulawayo had to spearhead the country’s arts industry.

“The nomination on its own is a win because to be recognised as an artiste nationally is a great honour, winning the award was just a bonus and naturally I am happy to have brought something for the people of Bulawayo,” he said.

Chakuvinga won the award for his role in Raisedon Baya’s stage play The Taking, which is a play based on true events that happened in Zimbabwe, such as the issue of the land redistribution exercise.

The play has been staged at various events such as the Harare International Festival of Arts (Hifa) Charles Austin Theatre in Masvingo, Bulawayo Theatre and Protest Arts theatre in Harare.

Chakuvinga noted that he could have not won the award without the rest of the cast.

“I would like to give credit to Alex Zulu, Musa Sibanda, and Elton Sibanda, it’s not a solo thing to win in theatre, it is co-ordinated hard work from the cast, which includes the writers and directors.

“It’s not an easy road, young and upcoming artistes should know and appreciate that in order to be successful, they need to be open minded and always be ready to learn something new,” said Chakuvinga.

The director of the play, Memory Kumbota said Chakuvinga was a reliable artiste and it was an honour for him to have been recognised through the award.

“Gift is a gifted performer and like the rest of the cast he is quite talented, he is reliable and very creative. There were a record high number of entries and being among the few shortlisted is an honour,” said Kumbota.

Kumbota also highlighted the need for female artistes in Bulawayo to take on their male counterparts so as to gain recognition in the arts industry.

“Our Musa Sibanda was the only female nominee from Bulawayo. We are happy she was nominated considering her age and that she was pitted against seasoned performers, Musa is going places,” he said.