Thursday, March 26, 2020

Bambelela Arts Ensemble - the arts group profile


Bambelela Arts Ensemble - Profile

Bambelela Arts Ensemble is a None-profit making Community based Theatre Organization constituted under “Common Law Universitas” to operate in accordance with the accepted legal principles and practices and in conformity with the laws and regulations of the Republic of Zimbabwe in order to achieve lawful objectives.
Speaking to the director, Witness Tavarwisa, who gave us the profile of the organisation,  It was then made known to us that ...
The Ensemble is made up of youths representing a broad range of groups and interests have worked together in a broad alliance concerning their common interest in Community Development and other related matters, The Ensemble was formed in response to an increasing demand in Zimbabwe for overt, organized support and comprehensive development delivery services. 
The Ensemble has a long standing history of activism on development which back dates to its inception on the 20th of June 1992 in Matshobana suburb, Bulawayo. Due to the success and progress made in the past and fact that the issues around which Bambelela Arts was formed continue to prevail, the individuals who have been involved have decided to take up the challenges of ongoing development work. For the Ensemble to function what matters most is not the number of followers it have but the ideological unity, mutual trust, understanding and solidarity of purpose which implements the organization's activities.


Vision
Excellence in our Business that provides best services and plays its appropriate role in overall Development.

Mission
Facilitate Community Development

Objectives
The principles of the Ensemble are:
1. To identify, nature , promote and support talent
2. To assist in alleviating poverty by influencing for the establishment and provision  of appropriate legal, effective and practical  policies that promote and maintain Community Development.
3. To nature and deepen public awareness and understanding around the issues of Development and related issues by inter-lia, providing accurate information to the media, general public and all organizations working towards social reform and transformation.
4. To encourage the government and other civic organizations to protect the marginalized communities and take an active stand.
5. To contribute to the national economy through theatre by creating employment opportunities and developing the Creative industry.
6. Encourage people’s participation in Socio-economic, political and cultural  transformation through Arts.
7. Provide a platform that promote young and adult literacy through edutainment (performances, discussions, seminars and workshops)


Activities
 The organization's activities vary from time to time due to the fact that they are at times based on the influence and needs of the community ( Community, Private, public Institutions and others service providers.) and they much characterized by Theatre performances, workshops, commissioned projects, Training on theatre and Story telling as a performance, Children's Projects aimed at identifying and nurturing their talents, boosting their self esteem, confidence and instill Ubuntu.


Training
The Ensemble is highly trained with a professional approach in its administration and Management, Theatre in Civic Education, Leadership and Management, Public Relations, Effective Arts Management, Business Management, Project Proposal appraisal, Basic to advanced theatre skills and techniques, Story telling as a Performance, Strategic Marketing, Civic Education.

Achievements
Group's Stability and consistency  Productions                To date the Ensemble has produced more than two dozens of high quality action packed theatre production and one film.

Theatre at workplace             
The Ensemble’s activities at workplace vary from one institution to another  and cuts across socio-economic issues that affects or promote and develop work spaces. We tailor make them to suit the clientele’s needs and satisfaction. We have worked with the following institutions too: Effective Management and Conflict Resolution with Gwanda Rural District Council 1995 – 1996, Wellness and HIV education at NRZ 1995 – 2000, ZIMRA 2015-2017, TelOne 2016- 2018 Festivals                Linkfest 95 -02, Hosted Masakhane Arts Festival 95, Harare international Festival of the Arts HIFA 2000 – 2007, Ibumba Arts Festival 2001 – 2015, Umzingwane AIDS Network 2000 - 2007, SADC Multi disciplinary Festival 2003 in South Africa, Abangane Arts Festival 2003 – 2007, Savanna Trust Community Arts Festivals, Patsime's BAFA 2008-2010., Great Zimbabwe Arts Festival 2008-2016,Intwasa Arts Festival koBulawayo 2005-16, Inxusa Arts Festival 2014, Hurungwe Arts Festival 2014 and Protest Arts International Festival 2014, City of Bulawayo 2000- 2018.

Awards
 First prize in the Provincial Level and Award winning at National level in the United Nations Development Programme's poverty Alleviation competitions, NAMA Nominee in the Best Theatre Production with By The Roadside in 2003., Best Actor category with Naison Dube in By The Roadside 2003, NAMA Award winners in Best Actor and Actress with Naison Dube and Nomalanga Sibanda. NAMA nominee in the Best actor category with Leonard Phiri in The Naked Truth 2004. Nominee in the Best Actress in 2008 with Nomalanga  Sibanda. NAMA 2009 Nomee in best Production with Silent Screams, Nominee in Best Actress 2009category with Nomalanga Sibanda and Best Actor2009 category with Josphat Ndlovu. Awarded by Amnesty International Zimbabwe for Championing HumanRights Through Theatre, Awarded by National Aids Council of Zimbabwe for Championing the fight against HIV/AIDS through theatre in 2015 and 2017.


Monday, March 9, 2020

SOCIAL FOCUS: The PYLF, Local forum for local youths

PUMULA YOUTH LEADERSHIP FORUM


Pumula is a growing suburb within the city of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. It has three Wards which are Ward 17, 19 and 27. The suburb of Pumula has one youth center for all the three Wards. This youth center is therefore  a safe space for young people spaces within the suburb and a need to utilize it for the development of youth is necessary.

Stanley Moyo - Public Relations
Speaking to the Public relations officer, Mr. Stanley Moyo, The Pumula Youth Leadership Forum (PYLF) has been found , on the 26th of September 2019, so as to unite all the youth leaders within Pumula to address challenges which are faced by young people in the community. Young leaders from churches, resident associations, youth led organizations, village committees and political parties are the main target to be part of this youth forum.

A number of issues face young people in Pumula and these issues have been raised to office barriers within Pumula. Therefore they has been a need to create a platform were young leaders can dialogue on they own on these issues affecting youths and take those solutions to the office barriers in Bulawayo.

Pumula Youth Leadership Forum, wants to create a safe platform were young people can dialogue in a peaceful manner. It also aims to amplify the voices of the youths within the community in terms of community development, decision making process and also on influencing policy at a national levels as well.

The vision for Pumula Youth Leadership Forum is to create and nurture youth leaders who are social accountable, can advocate for youth issues and can influence decision making processes within Pumula.



The objectives of the Youth Forum are to:
1) Create a platform for young people indifferent leadership positions to share ideas and sharpen each other to be better leaders of today, tomorrow and the future.
2) Give space for all youth leaders to make their own contributions on different development issues.
3) Make an impact in the social and moral fabric of the community through active participation in discussion and responsible decision making.

Currently, the forum has 3 ongoing programs running under its establishment. These include:
1. Imvelo Youth Project
2. Pumula Youth Desk
3. Food relief for vulnerable communities

1. Imvelo Youth Project
The Imvelo youth project was initiated on November 22 2019. At its ground breaking ceremony Ward 17 Councillor S Moyo and Deputy Director Housing Mrs T Khumalo planted our first tree indigenous tree at the Pumula Library with three trees being planted on the day.

So far the project has grown 10 trees around Pumula as a mitigation measure to climate change. Currently the project has around 350 trees in they nursery with an average of ten trees being potted every day. Also the project collected over 5000 sands of different trees to create they own sand bank of Indigenous and exotic trees.

In 2020 the project will be scaling up its mitigation measure of planting trees to address the impact of climate change. The project was set to realize an urgent need to start addressing climate change and working towards the achievement of the 13th Sustainable development goal. The Tree Friday Initiative will be rolled out in 2020 under the project.

2.Pumula Youth Desk
This project was established so as to provide relevant and accurate information that will promote active participation of young people in decision making processes in the community.
It also aims provide reliable and accurate information to the youth in the community as well as ensure that young people are aware of all the rights and services available to them and have access to them.
The PYLF’s youth desk objective is to make sure that young people make informed, positive, safe and responsible decisions on political, economical and social matters.

The Pumula Youth Desk is located at the Pumula housing office at office 11. It was opened on the 22 of November 2019. The desk has been mobile in two occasions, attending sports galas hosted in Robert Sinyoka and St Peters. A total of 235 young people have visited the youth desk with 126 collecting a variety of IEC material from the desk. The idea of the youth desk is being able to provide information to all young people in Pumula. A number of Stakeholders have provided IEC material and these are Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Legal Resource Centre, PSI Zimbabwe, Active Youth Zimbabwe, Youth for Human Rights Zimbabwe and Christian Alliance.


Young & Ambitious: ZENZO SIZIBA - Author, Poet & Speaker

Zenzo Siziba 


Zenzo Siziba, an 18 year old author, Motivational speaker and poet from Bulawayo is one of the young ambitious and talented characters in the city. Describing himself as a driven young man who has given himself as a person who want to make sure that everyone’s right is respected and wants to make sure that the vision of young people comes to reality, the young rising talent is showing a great deal of determination to that.

Zenzo alluded that he admires Greyson F Chipote, GratitudeTasara and Thabani Sibanda and are his role models contributing to who he is as a person in his endeavours. Without doing grade 1 to 5, Zenzo came to the realisation of his love for art and grew his talent as he told his stories to people. “I saw that many young people may get inspired through such testimony. It has been 4 years since I have been in Art industry. I enjoy writing and helping aspiring authors to be Authors so it’s my prayer to uplift the spirit of writing in Zimbabwe.”, he said.
“I look up to God to help me move forward in writing and make sure that people enjoy having me on their side and that they support me always.”, stretched Zenzo as we asked who he looks up to. This highlighted to us a unique approach to art as he showed a strong Christian faith to his work and life in general.
The opinion of Zenzo with regard to Zimbabwe industry was sensible. He agreed that yes, although things might not be well but it’s our duty to make our own people proud us.
So far, Zenzo has released quite a lot of work. In terms of writing he have 6 books which include, My life Without Direction, Breaking the codes of limitation, The Lost Generation, The Restoration of Gospel, Pains of Ignorance, and The Dispensation. He said People have reacted very well to his work and the criticism make him keep going as its part of self development. He highlighted that My life Without Direction is his favourite piece of work.
He has collaborated with Vongai Mujakachi, one of the esteemed author and poet of our young generation and hopefully  In future he would love to work with Mzwakhe Mbuli and Albert Nyathi. He has performed his art to the Government officials, individuals, captains of Industry and stakeholders in the community.
Currently, he work with Mr Greyson, Evolution Publications along other Individuals in the production of his art.
Relating his life and personality to a song and movie, he says “From a song I love Professor Green Lullaby. I love quotes from every young motivational speaker, I love to watch a movie called let it shine and the character I love Cyrus aka Tyler James. He is cool and he knows what he wants in life that’s why at the end we see him becoming the best because he is stable and unmoved”.
This new year of 2020, Zenzo’s advice to all young artist today was “ I can say don’t live a life of Downloading live a life of uploading you can do it in life always go for what you want”. And he has expressed his 2020 plan of actions summarised to be one of the best motivational speakers and book writers ever emerged in this world.
“I would love to send my shout to my family and friends thank you for keeping me moving lets continue to support” Ambassador Zenzo siziba
Facebook : zenzo siziiba writer
Twitter: zenzo siziba Ambassador
Insta : zenzo siziba ambassador
call or whatsapp on +263 7842 68785




Saturday, March 7, 2020

BulawayoRisingTalent #BRT - Afro-dancehall Musician, Chimsy-P

Emmanuel Prince Chimhako

Emmanuel Prince Chimhako, a musician and song composer from the City of Kings AKA KoBULAWAYO   is popularly known as Chimsy-P.

Born and raised in the township of New Lobengula, the 24year old who did his primary school at Nkanyezi and secondary school at Njube high is one of Bulawayo’s upcoming Afro dancehall artist that is expected to rock the music industry.  The young protégé said one of the people who  he sees as role models is Musi. Chimsy-P’s first track  titled in “No Sleep” was recorded in 2013 after he fell in love with rap music.

Chimsy-P is one of the young  musicians who look up to and admire the celebrated Zimbo star WinkyD for a variety of reasons one of which include the the messages in WinkyD’s music and that he has stood firm with his art and he is still doing his music. The protégé has so far dropped three singles and  the fourth one is one latest afro dancehall Ndebele track titled “uThemby ulesiyezi” which was successful and also captured the attention of many. 

Chimsy-P told Upnext exclusive that he has collaborated with Dr. Ckhupha, Terry Kays and  expressed his hope for the future to work with WinkyD. Having performed in various stages right here in the city of kings and queens and in Harare, Plumtree and Gwanda, he highlighted that his biggest stage was in Gwanda, at the Phoenix Arena. Working with Dr. Ckhupha, Graham and Dj Langa, chimsy is determined to work hard in his music and as well promote music. 

He best describes himself through a song by Eminem titled “Cindirella man” and the lines “who can catch the lightning and strike it and flip the world upside down and make it rain upwards”.as it talks about taking strides to achieve the dreams we have as people and turning the impossible to I’m possible.


Sending a shout-out to Malindos, Empres Vee, Chikos, Dj Roppa and Cliff jeans and to all who know Chimsy-P
Facebook page: Chimsy-P
Twitter: @techchimsy 



Thursday, March 5, 2020



BYO’s SWIZZY ANDERSON! Who is he?




Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to Upnextan’s exclusive issue were we bring you latest updates of rising stars.
Music as it is keeps evolving and that evolution has shaped perceptions if societies. However, true music is scaled by its message the audience. Our featured Zimbabwean artist has creativity and has put his music to motivate, inspire, teach and communicate.
Today we have Anderson Talent Cheta aka Swizzy Anderson. A 25 years old musician and  vocalist born in Zimbabwe. Having started doing music in high school, he has managed to successfully drop some tracks and one of them being his latest "KASANG'THANDI". "I have been doing music since High School" spoke Swizzy when he was asked of the time since he started to realize his passion for music.

Swizzy further told Up-Next team that he is in the studio right now working on new projects. He was described by people who personally know him as a person of great endurance who loves his work because he is some-one who looks for relevance in what they sing and considers the final outcome of his content to for his fans.
We asked Mr. Swizzy what he loves about his music, he pointed out that "My music communicates with people and it mainly speaks about what we face almost everyday that is love and heartbreak( romantic at heart lol)". Well, having listened this song Kasangthandi . This kind of music is the one that we as Up-NEXT regard as the kind that is meant to reach the core of musical communication. REMEMBER Music is art and art is a talent and a talent is priceless. So guys, if you haven't heard Swizzy's songs... what are you waiting for? Subscribe to his YouTube channel and as well as ours to keep up to date with latest projects and updates of new tracks coming from young Zim Artist.
Notably as someone who was born with the talent for music, Swizzy has been nurturing it bit by bit, making new songs. Swizzy's work has been on the radio and he is working with HIT'EM HARD Records with Skido being the producer.  He has also worked with Freak on his single titled Fairytale. Currently, the talented musician is working on another single with MduSevan.
Driven by inspiration to pursue his love for music and make songs that relay a message, through emotions and reality Swizzy's playing field of music is cleared for hot tracks to be played.   Mentioning a few, the likes of The late  Dr Oliver Mtukudzi and Dr Alex Ndlovu have been musical icons of his and their music has contributed to the quality of music Swizzy does.
WORD of encouragement from Swizzy Anderson to you is to "Just be your self". This is most powerful foundation for any artist that is on a journey to make a name for himself and his/her music.
Facebook... Swizzy Anderson
Instagram @Swizzy Anderson
YouTube.. Swizzy Anderson.



SOAR PAST YOUR LIMITS - Cde. Phil

Philip Moyo is one of the artist who has made a ground breaking career being a man of many talents, he is an actor, an MC, weeding plan...