By Joel Zilala
BOF and Patsime Edutainment Trust confirmed that they are real friends. This was after the two theatre based organizations engaged into a partnership to perform educational drama in 20 schools in Mashonaland west Province.
Financial support from Patsime complimented the human resources at BOF to implement the project codenamed ‘Buddyz 4 luv’.
BOF performed in 11 primary and 9 secondary schools. According to teachers’ assessment, the activities were very clear to students. The effectiveness of the activities was rated at 80% to primary pupils and 71% to secondary students. This was evidenced by the lessons they learnt.
The drama presentations of both secondary and primary reflects cases of child abuse and their effects. Awareness is therefore given to children to observe their rights and report such cases to authorities and other people and also not to expose themselves to situations which lead to such incidences. Other issues like teenage pregnancy, abortion and drug abuse are also ironed out.
Commenting after witnessing one of the presentations, Mr. N Jembere (Arts and culture promotions officer, Hurungwe District) said,
‘There are already notable cases of teacher students’ relationships in our district; this drama presentation is complimenting our efforts to terminate existing relationships as a follow up strategy’.
Monday 25 June 2012
Monday 14 May 2012
BOF destined for Canaan - Matsa
By Joel Zilala
Savanna Trust’s information officer, Leonard Matsa said,
”Baptism Of Fire will reach Canaan one day.”
Matsa equated BOF’s vision to the biblical land of Canaan when he was addressing a play development workshop in Karoi on Wednesday 9 May 2012.
Currently, BOF and Savanna Trust are partnering in the implementation of a project in human rights, democracy and good governance in Hurungwe district of Mashonaland West.
BOF is looking forward to a rural community of Nyamhunga where political rights and aspirations are respected through understanding and participation.
In a move aimed at increasing awareness, promote citizen dialogue and participation in human rights as well as governance, democracy and development matters through community theatre, BOF and Savanna Trust organized a two day workshop.
The meeting was attended by Tafadzwa Hananda and Leonard Matsa from Savanna Trust, while Joel Zilala, Nicholas Zilala, Godwin Gutsa, Godwin Chitimbe, Sikumbuzo Sibanda, Julia Moffat and Chido Makofa were from BOF.
The aim was to review a roadmap and consent efforts on play development.
Strategies discussed included community and stakeholder identification, research, play development and performance.
It also encompasses redefining the play after the first performance, lobbying of relevant organizations and replay.
Self organization is only before the stage of solutions and trials and sharing of successes.
It was noted that BOF had actually passed all the other stages up to when the community is now self organizing itself. It has also redefined its play to focus on the enhancement of community participation which will bring about the lost unity of Nyamhunga community.
It has been noted that BOF has made its own strides of community development and the workshop was worth attending.
Wednesday 25 April 2012
BOF in non-violence play
CHINHOYI- Karoi based drama group, Baptism of Fire (BOF) continued with their enriched showcasing of non- violent political play leaving the audience calling for more from humorous yet serious story of human experience through the play ‘My Son’.
Performed during a high profile platform in Chinhoyi on the 12th of April, the play is all about how lives are lost due to political indifferences marking a possible end to intolerance ahead of possible elections.
The meeting was organized by Centre for Youth Empowerment and Development as well as Joint Monitoring Implementation Committee (Jomic) drawing participants from civic, youth organizations, political parties and community leadership within Mashonaland West province.
‘’Peace is not just our right as Zimbabweans but our responsibility” were some of the words that everyone who attended the meeting agreed to.
The theme further said, “Stop hooliganism and political violence”.
The play ‘’My Son’, a theatrical production by BOF was touching as it explored on effects of political violence even at family level.
Set in a rural area the play is about Nyeredza, an election candidate of a certain political party though his son, Hwishu who completed 'A’ level studies is affiliated to a different party.
Nyeredza is one of many political leaders who overstress their promises to the electorate telling people what development is needed in the community. He even has the drive to promise villagers at a rally that he would construct bridges where there are no rivers and connect electricity in the field so that people would even work at night. Nyeredza is eager to increase beer halls in the community by changing one block at every school.
But Hwishu disagrees with his father telling him that he must not impose developmental projects on people but must accommodate their views and suggestions.
Hired youths of Nyeredza's party tries to silence him but Hwishu insists by asking villagers if there is anywhere where there is a river in the area to build a bridge.
He asks if it is possible to draw electricity to the fields before even connecting in the homes and why would it possible to convert school blocks to beer halls.
Villagers are enlightened and begin to notice that there is need for their participation on developmental issues in their community other than listening to vague promises.
After being threatened by the party loyalists about his son's unbecoming behavior, Nyeredza orders the youths to ‘’deal’’ who opposes his party policies than to lose out. He chases Hwishu out of his home. The youths go around beating people and even killing some.
Hwishu succumbed to violence injuries resulting in his death.
The perpetrators of violence are seen to be mentally disturbed; some are being haunted by the avenging spirits.
Nyeredza is haunted at last and killed in a conflict of revenge.
As the play comes to and end some of the audience had these comments to make saying the play will always assist those youths who have been abused by politicians.
“Your play is action packed, it does not point figures on anyone but tells the story as it is”. Said a ZANU PF youth activist identified as Mavata who was speaking to BOF director Sikumbuzo Sibanda.
“If I was a preacher I would use the play as my sermon, I would just say, let’s pray at the end of the play.” Chinhoyi constituency Member of Parliament Stewart Garadhi commented.
He further suggested that the play must be used as a campaign tool against political violence in the province.
Other stakeholders who were part of the audience included, Mayor for Chinhoyi Claudius Nyamhondoro, ZANU PF provincial Chairperson John Mafa, MDC provincial chairman, MDC-T provincial chairman and ZEC Mashonaland West.
Performed during a high profile platform in Chinhoyi on the 12th of April, the play is all about how lives are lost due to political indifferences marking a possible end to intolerance ahead of possible elections.
The meeting was organized by Centre for Youth Empowerment and Development as well as Joint Monitoring Implementation Committee (Jomic) drawing participants from civic, youth organizations, political parties and community leadership within Mashonaland West province.
‘’Peace is not just our right as Zimbabweans but our responsibility” were some of the words that everyone who attended the meeting agreed to.
The theme further said, “Stop hooliganism and political violence”.
The play ‘’My Son’, a theatrical production by BOF was touching as it explored on effects of political violence even at family level.
Set in a rural area the play is about Nyeredza, an election candidate of a certain political party though his son, Hwishu who completed 'A’ level studies is affiliated to a different party.
Nyeredza is one of many political leaders who overstress their promises to the electorate telling people what development is needed in the community. He even has the drive to promise villagers at a rally that he would construct bridges where there are no rivers and connect electricity in the field so that people would even work at night. Nyeredza is eager to increase beer halls in the community by changing one block at every school.
But Hwishu disagrees with his father telling him that he must not impose developmental projects on people but must accommodate their views and suggestions.
Hired youths of Nyeredza's party tries to silence him but Hwishu insists by asking villagers if there is anywhere where there is a river in the area to build a bridge.
He asks if it is possible to draw electricity to the fields before even connecting in the homes and why would it possible to convert school blocks to beer halls.
Villagers are enlightened and begin to notice that there is need for their participation on developmental issues in their community other than listening to vague promises.
After being threatened by the party loyalists about his son's unbecoming behavior, Nyeredza orders the youths to ‘’deal’’ who opposes his party policies than to lose out. He chases Hwishu out of his home. The youths go around beating people and even killing some.
Hwishu succumbed to violence injuries resulting in his death.
The perpetrators of violence are seen to be mentally disturbed; some are being haunted by the avenging spirits.
Nyeredza is haunted at last and killed in a conflict of revenge.
As the play comes to and end some of the audience had these comments to make saying the play will always assist those youths who have been abused by politicians.
“Your play is action packed, it does not point figures on anyone but tells the story as it is”. Said a ZANU PF youth activist identified as Mavata who was speaking to BOF director Sikumbuzo Sibanda.
“If I was a preacher I would use the play as my sermon, I would just say, let’s pray at the end of the play.” Chinhoyi constituency Member of Parliament Stewart Garadhi commented.
He further suggested that the play must be used as a campaign tool against political violence in the province.
Other stakeholders who were part of the audience included, Mayor for Chinhoyi Claudius Nyamhondoro, ZANU PF provincial Chairperson John Mafa, MDC provincial chairman, MDC-T provincial chairman and ZEC Mashonaland West.
Sunday 22 April 2012
Tuesday 17 April 2012
Villagers tap development as tool of achievement
Villagers here are taking bold initiative to develop their area as witnessed through the participation in molding bricks within Chief Nyamhunga’s area of Hurungwe.
They are now defying continued ignorance of underdevelopment of their community that was characteristic in the past two decades. The resultant was the participation of more than 50 people under Mangisi and Chirasasa headmen on 19th of September to light up the oven of the bricks that they had molded.
Chief Nyamhunga covers the greater part of Karambazungu area. A recent school development committee resolved that surrounding villages must provide bricks for the construction of an extra classrooms block to cater for the increased number of pupils.
Villagers from the two headmen were geared for the project and organized themselves to start molding bricks at Makokova River.
Headmen Aleck Mangisi told the gathering that there was need to work as a team to bring development through education of the children who are the future of any society.
Headman Mangisi, "we learn from what others do and let us lead by example'.
His statement is a testimony of how other communities are working together to develop their areas.
Headman Mangisi encouraged his subjects to be proactive in their approach in developing the area.
"We urge you to participate in everything that you understand. Do not just join projects that you do not understand their focus. It is better for you to seek better understanding for what you intend to do as a community '.
Hurungwe Rural district chairman who is ward councilor for ward 17 Tichaona Matthew also said it was a good project by local drama group Baptism of Fire to engage the community for developmental projects that will go a long way in fostering development in the area.
"The initiative by Baptism of Fire Theatre to educate people on issues of development and their will to work on one project area has brought about positive change. We are grateful that they know where they started and are giving back to the community that gave them the support to make themselves better artists not just locally but nationally, regionally and internationally'.
He also indicated that there is now increased community participation on community development issues.
Baptism of Fire is a community based organization that promotes community development and empowerment on social, economic, education, health and human rights to the underprivileged by communicating effectively through dramas, music, dances, poetry, community meetings, workshops and Festivals.
Baptism of Fire's goal is to minimize the number of illiterate citizens on development education and enhance ploughing back of knowledge and resources to the communities in respect of human rights.
Since 2008, Baptism Of Fire has been carrying out some of its projects in Nyamhunga area and have successfully conducted community workshops and festivals an advocating for behavior change in human rights, specifically child rights and women's rights, health education, political intolerance and citizen participation.
On a separate note, Nyamhunga community has organized themselves to construct four earth bridges popularly known as causeways on the 8 kilometer road that links Mashuma 2 and Karambazungu via Mangisi, Chirasasa and Makudzachamba Villages.
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