adminTafadzwa Zimoyo Entertainment Reporter
One of the pioneers of Street Theatre in Harare’s First Street, Farai “Bhasopo” Muriro will be remembered for his exploits in the acting fraternity at a commemorative gig to be held on December 5 at Epworth Hall.
The event is the brainchild of Paul Kwashira popularly known as Kabhasikoro in acting circles.
Kwashira is the actor behind the hilarious character Kabhasikoro of the comedy series with the same name that were broadcast on ZTV in 1999 and 2001. Bhasopo was in the league of renowned street theatre actors that include veteran comedian-cum-musician, Freddy “Kapfupi” Manjalima, Jeffrey “Aphiri” Chikwesere and Charles “Marabha” Merisi. Kabhasikoro, who has been based in Ghana since last year, said proceeds of the show would assist Bhasopo’s family.
“We will shoot a comedy disc and proceeds from the sales will go towards the upkeep of his family.
“H-1 Studios, the production company behind some of Kapfupi’s productions as well as others like ‘Mukuwasha Mukuru’ featuring Marabha, ‘Tsvimbo Nemboma Pamasowe’ and ‘The Return of Kabhasikoro 1’, are behind the shooting of this project,” said Kabhasikoro. He further noted that the event would be held in the spirit of remembering his departed colleague and in the line of keeping the acting torch that Bhasopo lit.
Kabhasikoro apart from shooting the commemorative drama will also launch the sequel to his comedy, “The Return of Kabhasikoro 2” on December 23 to coincide with his 34th birthday.
“This is not the first time that we have held a commemorative event in remembrance of our departed fellow actors. In 2012 we remembered the late Nyimo through a memorial and this is in our traditional norm of ‘nyaradzo’ (memorial).
“This time around we have decided to honour Bhasopo. As I have already alluded to, this a trend that we started a long way ago dating back to 2010 when we were also there at the late Nevernay Chinyanga’s remembrance.
“By virtue of being the founders of street theatre in Zimbabwe, we saw it befitting that some of our fellow comrades we were with in the trenches shouldn’t go uncelebrated.
“In countries like the United States, for example, they have a Hall of Fame where they honour the contributions that would have been made by artistes not only in the arts industry but also towards the country’s Gross Domestic Product since art is also a revenue-generating field.”
Kabhasikoro said he would personally fund the project. “I am doing this from my own pocket out of the love for my fellow artistes who contributed a lot to the industry. When he (Bhasopo) passed away, I was out of the country and I only learnt of his death after my return and this saddened me to the extent that I decided to do something for his family,” he said.
Kabhasikoro worked with Bhasopo in a project titled “Kabhasikoro and Bhasopo” on which Kabhasikoro featured as a guest artist upon his return from Ghana where he was on a fact-finding mission aimed to up his game. Kabhasikoro also featured in a number of Nigerian films like “Alice my first Lady”, “Hotel Rwanda 2”, “The Real life” and “World Apart 1 & 2”.
Some of the local productions he has starred in include “NdiGringo Chete” and “Zuku”, among others.
Online Reporter