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Ivan Zhakata Arts Correspondent
The sixth anniversary of the Theatre paBridge project roars to life today with a line-up of theatre, dance, music, acrobatics and poetry performers scheduled to perform at the disused footbridge in Highfield, Harare.
Performing artists, among others, Sekuru Soro, Blackbird, Ckanyiso, Simba, Chimwemwe, Talking Guitars, Zvido Zvevanhu Arts Ensemble, Yambutso Arts, Dangerous African Giants, TNG aka Khamkadzi and Body Language will be complimented by a surprise guest artist.
Event organizer Nyanduri Nyandoro said this year’s anniversary commemorations were dedicated to celebrate EDZAI ISU Trust’s late finance director Felicity Dambudzo Tawengwa, an accountant and entrepreneur who had passion for arts development in the Highfield community and poverty eradication among rural women in Wedza.
“The initial date was not possible due to circumstances beyond our control in which police said it was not ideal to hold the commemorations on that particular Friday,” he said.
“The Theatre paBridge project started in 2016 when we approached relevant authorities, secured seed funding from Africalia to clean the bridge and conscripted community volunteers who cleaned it and since the 28th of October to date we have successfully hosted more than 300 established and up and coming artists which include Edith WeUtonga, Progress Chipfumo, Kireni Zulu, Albert Nyathi, Tryson Chimbetu, TruBantu, Maestrowemhanda, Taking Guitars, Jungle Boyz and New Generation, among others, before Covid19 forced us to stop activities.
“With the Covid-19 situation becoming contained and restrictive measures being relaxed, we have started activities at the bridge since September holding a show every fortnight and after the 6th anniversary on the 28th of October, we want to make it weekly with support from private, public, civic and international organisations.
“As a community rooted transformative arts organisation that thrives on partnerships with government, private, civic society and international organisations, we are happy with the encouraging support we are getting from stakeholders notably Harare City Council, National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, and OK Machipisa in the revival process. ”
Nyandoro said for those that did not know the humble and ever smiling Felicity who passed away on July 22, 2022, she was an accountant by profession with over 20 years’ experience in various management, finance, administration and accounting roles in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom.
He said Felicity enjoyed and actively worked on social impact projects to empower local communities through income generating projects with projects like Mobility for Africa empowering local women with electrical scooters to run their agricultural errands.
Born on December 12, 1971, Felicity was also a successful business woman and farmer as the managing director of Shaka Hills Farm.
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