malvernmugadzikwa
Society Reporter
AT the turn of the millennium, street theatre was one of the most sought-after forms of entertainment.
Different groups would take turns to entertain passersby in the central business district, particularly at the intersection of Speke Avenue and First Street Mall in Harare.
This saw the meteoric rise of entertainers such as Freddy “Kapfupi” Manjalima, who featured in productions like “Magariro”, whose main characters also included Charles “Marabha” Merisi, Jeffrey “Aphiri” Chikwesere and Mai Trouble.
They naturally attracted the national broadcaster ZBC’s attention and secured a prime time viewing slot around the year 2000.
Apart from the “Magariro” crew, Wasu we Wire also ruled the roost with his hugely popular street performances.
However, after a decade or so, street theatre performers seemingly went into a slumber.
The open spaces in the city were instead taken over by street preachers, among them Trymore Muparinga and Bishop Kevin Nyamakanga.
But the resurrected Mashona Arts Group has vowed to bring street theatre back to life.
In the past, they also shared the platform with Kapfupi and crew, including Wasu we Wire.
The eight-member group, which is led by Searchmore Takavada and Wilbert Chimarizeni, was formed in 2008, collapsed in 2010, before bouncing back in 2017.
When everything appeared set for them to conquer the streets, the group suffered a major setback due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns in 2020.
But the group reinvented itself in August last year.
Their acts are scheduled for every weekend under the footbridge at the Joina City Mall.
“The feedback is positive and encouraging. I am charmed by the support, both moral and financial, that we are getting from our fans. Street theatre is certainly back, and we want to take it to another level,” said Takavada, who is better known by his stage name Matsotsi Style.
He believes street theatre has a special niche that they intend to serve.
Financial challenges have affected the group’s operations in the past.
However, they say it is now a thing of the past because of the overwhelming support they are getting from fans and different organisations.
In some instances, they are hired to take part in road shows and perform in schools as part of awareness campaigns.
“The group is now financially stable; we have enough funds to carry out our projects. In the next few months, we are planning to tour the country marketing our work,” he said.
The group is working on a new drama series titled “Drug Mafia: Part Two”, which is set to be released next month.
The production tackles issues related to drug and substance abuse.
“This is an important project that needs everyone’s support. Once released, we will take it to schools, streets and television stations, and also post it on social media.”
Chimarizeni, who is the second-in-command at the ensemble, said Mashona Arts Group has since engaged the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to do its projects in schools.
Their productions, he added, are both comical and educative — addressing issues that include drug abuse, early child marriage and crime.
“Our main target group are youths, hence we need more access to schools,” he said.
Some of the dramas they have produced so far are “Dreams Come True” (2008); “Kutsvaga Upfumi” (2019); and “Mabhodhi” (2018); as well as “Zviri Muchikomo”, “Three Days in March” and “Drug Mafia: Part One”, which were done last year.
Online Reporter