Andrew
Society Reporter
MULTI-TALENTED arts personality Caroline Nyaka Chana’s career and influence continues to swell with each passing day.
The Zimbabwe-born and Ireland-based quintuple threat artiste is raising the country’s flag high through her creative exploits that have seen her share the stage with international stars.
Nyaka Chana has in the past been involved in the production of international movies and series in Hollywood, Australia and the United Kingdom.
On Wednesday, she headlined the Irish Black History Month celebrations.
The Black History Month in the UK is a time for celebration of black lives, black culture and the black community. It is also a time to reflect on one’s commitment to tackling racism. This year’s event ran under the theme “Time for Change: Action Not Words”. Nyaka Chana joined forces with a former Stella Chiweshe band member, popularly known as Splinter, as she entertained revellers on stage.
Her participation at the event came a week after the premier of the movie “The School for Good and Evil”, which was directed by Paul Feig and features Hollywood stars Kerry Washington, Laurence Fishburne and Charlize Theron. The Ireland-based quintuple threat artiste worked behind the scenes with the greats as part of the production team. Nyaka Chana notes this has been one of her best years in the arts industry.
“We are in October and 2022 is nearly over. I must say this has gone really fast. It has been the busiest year ever for me as I have not stopped since February, doing back-to-back filming and also being Nyaka Chana on the side. I can sum it up as the year of mounting up and the best year in the arts industry,” she said.
In February, the versatile artiste was honoured by Disney World as part of their 50th anniversary celebrations that are expected to run until March 31, 2023. She was honoured for her role as Princess Tiana, after she became the first black African to play the principal Disney character in the series “The Princess and The Frog” from 2013 to 2015 in Walt Disney Resort, Paris, France. Nyaka Chana said she felt honoured to have been chosen to be the closing act of the national celebrations of the Black History Month.
“My act was a door opener. I will deliver a much better performance next year. This achievement has taken the Nyaka Chana brand to greater heights and opened doors to much more high-profile performances. I am so excited about the future,” said Nyaka Chana.
“This is something we have wanted for quite some time. We deserve recognition as a people in view of what those who went before us sacrificed for, especially to give us freedom.”
Nyaka Chana described working with Ambuya Chiweshe’s former band member as a dream come true.
“Having Ambuya Stella Chiweshe’s former band member playing in my band has not only brought me closer to her. What amazed me was hearing him (Splinter) saying he is so blessed to have played for both ambuya and now muzukuru.
“Ambuya clearly left a mark on him and I see it in his eyes when he mentions her name; I hear it in his voice. It really motivates me. She truly still is and has been my hero from the age of seven,” said the 38-year-old artiste.
Meanwhile, Nyaka Chana has been retained as the head judge of the World Monologue Games for the third consecutive season.
“I cannot believe we are in the third season already and being the head judge for three consecutive years is both humbling and valuable. These talent shows can replace judges anytime. You see it on ‘American Idol’, ‘The Voice’ and ‘X-Factor’,” she said.
“I am grateful that Australia loves me that much and I have actually established a great friendship with the producers. We get on really well with every member behind the scenes.”
World Monologue Games is a global acting competition and virtual showcase, allowing professional and budding actors from anywhere in the world to participate from their homes.
Online Reporter