CHIPAWO IS LAUNCHING A PROFESSIONAL YOUTH THEATRE WITH A PLAY ON PEACE AND RECONCIIATION IN ZIMBABWE

On 22nd March, the well-known arts education organisation, CHIPAWO, will be  holding three important events at the Theatre in the Park: the launch of a fulltime professional youth theatre company, the New Horizon Youth Theatre; the premier of the company’s first play, Rudo neRunyararo, adapted from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet by Peter Churu and Robert Mshengu Kavanagh; and the launch of CHIPAWO’s involvement in the international CUSP project [Culture for Sustainable and Inclusive Peace]. Set in a small town in Zimbabwe and acted in Shona, Rudo noRunyararo the features the feuds and animosities between the mayor and the local bus company owner and their families as well as their domestic conflicts, leading to inevitable tragedy, which opens their eyes and those of the community to the futility of their enmity and the need for reconciliation. The play will run from 22nd of March to the 1st of April 2023 at Theatre in the Park, Harare Gardens. New Horizon Youth Theatre Company has been in existence since 2003, with performances  in a number of venues in Harare, including the Reps Theatre, and in cities and towns all over Zimbabwe. Their major plays include: Vicious (2003), S.J. Chifunyise’s masterpiece about middle class poverty; Soul Sister Comes to Africa (2004), also by Chifunyise; The Little Man of Murewa (2005), adapted from Hans Christian Andersen’s story, ‘Little Claus and Big Claus’, premiered at the Harare International Festival of the Arts and in Denmark; A Journey to Yourself, adapted from Norwegian dramatist, Henrik Ibsen, play Peer Gynt, premiered at the Harare International Festival of the Arts;  a dramatisation of Charles Mungoshi’s classic novel, Waiting...
What’s Stopping You From Learning Sign Language

What’s Stopping You From Learning Sign Language

By Rashiwe Chipurunyenye What is stopping you from learning sign language? That is the question each of us should be asking ourselves. From Monday (September 19) until Sunday (September 25) – the world is celebrating International Week of the Deaf. The day is celebrated by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) and its national associations, and their affiliates globally during the last full week of September, culminating with International Day of the Deaf on the last Sunday of the week. The focus is on improving the rights of deaf persons, the status of national sign languages, access to education, and access to information technology and services. This gives greater attention to deaf culture and the achievements of deaf people. To join our groups follow: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IvIl08uoaHYKVh4AQzv2AL Nhau/Indaba spoke to Chipo Basopo, the director of Chipawo, an organisation spearheading a programme known as Creative Corridors. Through the programme, it aims to raise awareness on the inclusion of children with disabilities socially, economically and politically. Said Basopo: “Section 4 of Chapter 6 of the Zimbabwean Constitution states that ‘the State must promote and advance the use of all languages used in Zimbabwe, including Sign Language, and must create conditions for the development of those languages’. “With focus firmly on deafness and deaf people buoyed by provisions of a national Constitution, Creative Corridors, with the aim of including children with disabilities in different socio-economic aspects of life, urges Zimbabweans to take a stand and spread deaf awareness on education, sign language and access to technology.” Inclusion seeks to address the impact of hearing loss on everyday life, specifically in environments where those...
SOUTHERN AFRICAN FESTIAL FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (SAFE) 3RD ANNIVERSARY –  A SUCCESS AFTER THE PANDEMIC by Rashiwe Chipurunyenye

SOUTHERN AFRICAN FESTIAL FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (SAFE) 3RD ANNIVERSARY – A SUCCESS AFTER THE PANDEMIC by Rashiwe Chipurunyenye

It was never a secret that CHIPAWO always delivers and the Southern African Festival for Children and Young People, SAFE was served on a hot platter. Celebrating its 3rd anniversary with the theme “TAKURA”, SAFE festival saw the attendance of more than 500 people from the 4th to the 6th of August 2022. When they say “CHIPAWO chakadzidza”, it was surely reflected by the official opening, where CHIPAWO children presented an infusion of modern and traditional dances with the likes of Mbakumba, Muchongoyo,Dinhe, Amapiano, and Rhumba. Not only did they wow the audience with these dances but they presented a play Takura from the book Takura and the Talking Brunch by the late Stephen Chifunyise. SAFE Festival 2022 saw the attendance of Botswana, South Africa, Malawi and Zambia. These countries too brought their A-game, delivering powerful performances on the second and third day. Children of Botswana bringing the play “Melodi and Kgori”, while their counterparts from Botswana-Children Arts Trust did the play “The Missing Child” South Africa-Oasis Leaners Academy brought to life “Life Style” while Zambia-CHIEZA brought down the house with “We are better than yesterday”. Zambezi Arts Zambia did “Black Bond” and Malawi YDC performed “The Journey at Lampeduza” Zimbabwean theatre groups that were in attendance included House of Talents, Dzikwa Trust, and Elysium Magna. SAFE festival 2022 birthed the SAFE children’s fun day which was on third and last day of the festival. One can SAFELY say we truly had fun. There were jumping castles, face paints, toys, food stall, dance, music from Dj Wanco, Dj Jerry Springer, Baba Shupi, Dj Andreas and Kid Kinnah. SAFE Festival’s success was all thanks to the CHIPAWO Board, Dollarbill Entertainment, Pro-Diary, ProBrand, Nhaka Yambuya Kunze Butchery, Nyaradzo, VaChirenda , Friends of CHIPAWO...
SAFE Festival

SAFE Festival

CHIPAWO is celebrating three decades of its existence and the 3rd year of SAFE Festival – Southern African Festival for Children and young people . This year’s theme “TAKURA”, meaning we are all grown in English, is to celebrate the artistic works that the children and young people from Africa are producing and showcasing. The theme is derived from the book written by the late Stephen Chifunyise in protecting our intangible Cultural heritage and the environment. This year’s edition will run from the 4thto the 7th of August 2022 at Theatre in Park, Harare Gardens, Harare, Zimbabwe with participants from Zambia, Botswana, Malawi and Namibia as well as CHIPAWO and local children and youth groups in Zimbabwe. The main goal is to create a creative space with different young minds honoring the works of the Late Stephen Chifunyise in producing poems, drama plays, musicals, dance from his collection of “TAKURA and the Talking Branches SAFE FESTIVAL OBJECTIVES To create a platform for the future Southern African leaders to appreciate their own origins as well as the diversity of the dynamic world. To demonstrate the initiatives of the creative civil society in contributing to the building of the Southern African and in creating a viable and sustainable platform for intercultural dialogue. To provide children and youth an opportunity of sharing ideas artistically. To demonstrate the importance, use of culture in promoting African solidarity CHIPAWO is therefore seeking your support/ partnership in raising funds for the festival to be a success. The children will need meals, accommodation, transportation and the festival will also need venue hire, media equipment and marketing and promotional material. The amount required is $8000 USD for the execution of the festival and accommodating our sister organizations. Your support will...
SUPPORT CHIPAWO CHILDREN TO JAPAN FOR CHILDREN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL 2022

SUPPORT CHIPAWO CHILDREN TO JAPAN FOR CHILDREN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL 2022

CHIPAWO (Children’s Performing Arts Workshop) is performing arts organization that was established in 1989 as a trust with the aim of producing a performing arts education based on the idea of exploiting the traditional performing arts of the people of Zimbabwe and of Africa. Founders of CHIPAWO were convinced that it was necessary to promote a performing arts education that while using a pedagogy that is driven by indigenous cultural values of Ubuntu, it can be applied in the formal education system. CHIPAWO has participated in many international festival since 1992 to date. CHIPAWO this year has been invited to take part in the World Festival of Children’s Performing Arts in Toyama Japan, from the 30th of July to 3rd August 2022. The aim of this Festival is to promote mutual cultural exchange and friendship among the participants, through various kinds of artistic performances, seminars, and workshops in which the invited groups commit to participate with both the children and the group’s leader. CHIPAWO will perform a play entitled “MAIMBODEYI” a play that tackles issues affecting the girlchild from early child marriage, deprived education, child labour, poverty and family discrimination. CHIPAWO is there for seeking for your assistance as we fundraise for the CHIPAWO group air tickets of $ 22 000 USD to Toyama Japan to participate in the festival. The children will be expected to leave Zimbabwe on the 28th of July and arrive back on the 3rd of August 2022. This trip to Japan will give the Zimbabwean children the opportunity to be exposed internationally, to make new friends, learn new cultures while sharing the Zimbabwean culture...