The Longest Yard

. Nkululeko Nkala

This past Saturday I was at Manor Hotel for the annual Chibuku Neshamwari Dance Competitions hosted by Chibuku, National Arts Council and Zimbabwe National Traditional Dance Association (ZNTDA), and for once in many years the competition was a little stiff.

The Longest Yard is one of my favourite movies of all time. It stars Adam Sandler as Paul a�?Wreckinga�? Crewe who was a revered football superstar back in his day, but that time has since faded. But when a messy drunk driving incident lands him in jail, Paul finds he was specifically requested by Warden Hazen (James Cromwell), a duplicitous prison official well aware of Paula��s athletic skills.

Paul was assigned the task of assembling a team of convicts, to square off in a big football game against the sadistic guards.

With the help of fellow convict Caretaker, and an old legend named Nate Scarborough to coach, Crewe is ready for what promises to be a very interesting game.

Ita��s only the warden and the guards who have no idea who or what theya��re up against, with Paul the driving force behind the new team. Ita��s both funny and touchy and is a story of hope.

Anyway, why was this movie on my mind? In 2013 the arts lost a creative in the name of Philani Mabasa who was jailed 20 years for raping a colleaguea��s wife. Not condoning the act, we felt for him as we all thought the industry had lost a talented dancer in the award winning a�?Rangaa�? as he was affectionately known.

The assumption is that our prisons are more about punishment, not rehabilitation. We have all heard the stories of the way of living there and the conditions in general. And guess what? We did not lose a dancer, in actual fact Zimbabwe prisons gained a creative.

Ranga was at Manor on Saturday with the Prisonsa�� Group running under the name Sanganai Neshanduko (meaning meet with change) competing against the crA?me de la crA?me of the City, including his former group Hloseni Arts. His group who danced to their best came second at the competitions, pocketing $200.

I watched them dance outside the venue and I was touched. Touched because maybe our prisons are doing their best to rehabilitate. Our dancer is still doing what he loves most, even behind bars. And better yet he is sharing his skill with other like-minded inmates.

The prisons are pregnant with talent, I am glad they are now tapping into it and slowly integrating prisoners into community events. I am certain when Ranga serves his time he will continue with the trade he likes.

Prisoners are people like us, people who made mistakes or were wrong and are paying for it. I would like to applaud the Manor crowd, National Arts Council, ZNTDA and Delta Beverages for not discriminating against the group Sanganai Neshanduko and giving them a chance to show case their talent.

A part of me honestly wishes they had won the provincial finals and blessed the country with their fairytale story. A story of forgiveness , change and hope.Until next week, be safea��@nkuenkala