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Raisedon Baya
WILLIAM Shakespeare once said the world is a stage and each and every one of us is here to play his part and then disappear behind the curtains. If I remember well the quote goes like this:
“All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances.”
Tawanda Moyo, known to many of us as MaPecca, had his grand entrance to this world some 40-plus years ago and his sad exit a few days ago. He came into this world with a super smile — we can bet on the day he was born he did not cry but smile. His smile was gentle, soft, infectious, and must have melted many hearts and audiences. Tawanda Moyo did not enter the world with just his smile — he had so many other talents that made him a top performer with Siyaya Arts, a group he toured the world with.
MaPecca was a veteran stage performer who should be in the history books of theatre in Bulawayo. He was among the second generation of actors probably inspired by the success of Amakhosi Theatre. He and Siyaya Arts paved the way for many young actors now eking a living out of their art.
Sadly, the smile that was a permanent feature on his face was not there when he decided to take to his exit. In fact, his exit came too soon; it must have surprised him as it surprised his family and many of his friends in the arts fraternity. It was an exit with the traditional bow. Even the audience that had been watching the drama of his life were left stunned, unable to give him a standing ovation or a simple applause. You see in theatre when a play comes to its logical conclusion the expected reaction is some kind of an applause to appreciate time and effort by the actors. However, an abrupt ending, without warning, always leaves a sour taste in the mouths of audiences. MaPecca’s exit did just that. It left a sour taste in many of mouths.
Gone too soon, soldier. But many will remember your magical smile, musical voice and the dance moves that are synonymous with most of Siyaya Arts’ hit shows — Zwelethu, Kokoba Town, Zambezi Express and Thatha.
A month ago MaPecca was shot and the bullet remained lodged on his spine till the day of his death when they tried to remove it. When we first heard the story we were all stunned. A businessman had shot one of the three men who had tried to “rob” him at his house — the first news report said. Later on it became clear that the alleged robber who had been shot was actually MaPecca. For those who knew MaPecca the story was too hard to swallow.
Many of us could not believe the robber story. Of course, life has many surprises but there was no way MaPecca could have turned a robber — he was too good to be a robber. We all knew him and suspected a mistake had been made.
Fortunately, he woke up in ICU at Mpilo Hospital to set the record straight and defend his name. The story most of you now know as it has been documented in this paper and others. The long and short of it is that MaPecca had suspected his wife of having an affair with her boss and decided to confront them together — that was the mistake he made, the mistake that cost him his life. On that fateful night he got shot by his wife’s boss and alleged lover. Now there is no greater injustice to a man than having someone bed your wife and then shooting you when you ask what’s going on.
Farewell MaPecca. But we believe justice should be served. And justice will be served only after your killer — for you were murdered — is brought to book. And only when justice has been served we will be free to celebrate your life and achievements as one of the pioneers of theatre in Bulawayo.
Online Reporter