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CONTENTS 3 - EDITORIAL 20 - COVER STORY John Cole - 21st Century Dance-preneur
4 - HoM News 33 - MUSIC Anderson & After5Radio
10 - ARTS & CULTURE Shelton Mpala - Redefining Africa’s Image
27 - POLITICS Adam Jogee - New Mayor in Town
15 - YOUNG MUTAPA Kennedy Madevu
40 - HEALTH Breast Cancer in Men
44 - WRITER’S CORNER Ben Sibanda - Telling the Real Stories of Zimbabwe
8 - FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER Tanaka Maxwell Chembezi COVER DESIGNED BY RR CHAWOTA. PICTURE BY @REARMOSTHEN5693 ALL MAGAZINE DESIGNS AND LAYOUTS BY R R CHAWOTA
Editor In Chief - Rhoda Molife; Creative Design Director - Rodney Rumbidzai Chawota; Chairman - Godwin Chireka; Public Relations Director - Simba Harawa; Social Media Marketing Expert - Rumbidzai Chakanza Mamvura; Public Relations Executive - Vannesa Moosa HOUSE OF MUTAPA PVT LTD is a Registered Trademark. South Africa. Copyright 2020.
Contact - info@houseofmutapa.com HOUSE OF MUTAPA
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EDITORIAL
W
elcome to the penultimate HoM edition of the year that is #2020. This month we are ‘Celebrating Rising Kings’ especially as 19 November marked International Men’s Day. Black men all around the world do not get fair press at all despite their grind, their greatness and their genius, their intellect, their innovation and their intrigue, their class, their cool and their creativity, their resilience, their radiance and their royal presence, their beauty, their bodaciousness and all-round badassery, their… need I say more? We have featured many of these kings over the last year of course. Though this time, it would have been easy to focus on the ones we all know about, here at HoM it’s about going left (or right) of centre to find hidden treasure. So, for this edition, we chose to shine the light on those who are kind of quietly changing the game, raising the bar and building legacies.
buzz that I’m sure you’ll feel as you join in on our conversation. Inside, find out about a son of Mutare, Anderson Nyamande of After5 Radio and his mission to truly diversify Zimbabwean music. Then there is Shelton Mpala in Canada – remember him, the guy that started that petition against Disney’s intention to trademark the Swahili term hakuna matata from the 1994 film Lion King? Well, he’s continuing to redefine Africa’s image through the dynamic and vibrant platform, Children of The Dark Continent.
On the cover is choreographer and dancer John Cole, one of the hardest working and committed humans alive. Speaking and listening to him left me infused with a special kind of energy and a
Rhoda
Our kings redefine in all spheres. Bringing the essence of service back to politics is Adam Jogee who was elected Mayor of Haringey in London during Black History Month (October 2020) in the UK. Over in the world of art, Maxx Chembezi and Kennedy Madevu are capturing African beauty in photography and graphic design, respectively. We invite you to join us in celebrating some of our finest royalty and whilst you’re at it, do the same for those in your families and tribes too! Stay safe and well. Editor-in-Chief & Strategy Executive
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HoM NEWS
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y
About the Great Taste Awards
Rhoda Molife
The Great Taste Awards are the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink awards and this year they received a record breaking 12, 777 entries. The award means that K’s Wors gains wider recognition as a high quality brand that produces a world class product. For the company, the awards came at a time when sales were impacted by a shortage of raw materials caused by an unexpected surge in demand during the COVID19 pandemic. The company had initially successfully pivoted by creating an online shop and despite the initial setback, Dee says that ‘the pandemic has presented opportunities in areas that we never anticipated we would. Going digital has been the best thing we’ve ever done for our business and we’re now growing our team in order to explore all of the opportunities.’
rhoda@houseofmutapa.com
K’s Wors Sausages Wins Another Award Back in September 2020, K’s Wors, the company founded by Zimbabwean entrepreneur Dee Mapasure and her husband added another award to their CV. Their South African-inspired Chilli Boerewors won a Gold Star in the Continental Style Sausages category of the Great Taste Awards
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HoM NEWS About K’s Wors K’s Wors is the second largest UK black-owned sausage manufacturer and produces the only three-meat sausage on the market. The sausages can also be purchased through Ocado, at Global African Ltd in Manchester and at the 1212 African-Caribbean Shop in the Midlands. The brand has also won at the UK Sausage Week Awards and is listed in the SmallBiz Top 100 for 2020.
Tawanda Chirewa Signs First Pro Football Contract Aged 17
#ZimMusicQueens Rock: Blessing Chitapa Wins The Voice UK 2020
Tawanda was a Young Mutapa back in our January 2020 issue after making news as the second youngest debutante for Ipswich Town Football Club in the UK. This month, he signed his first professional contract with the club that will see him play for them until summer 2022. The mid-fielder says the deal was offered and agreed this summer when football was on hold as a result of the COVID19 pandemic. ‘I’m delighted to get to this milestone and now just want to push on. I feel really proud and am happy for my parents but know that this is only the beginning as I have to work even harder now.’ Tawanda signed the deal with his parents Blessing and Tsitsi Chirewa at his side. He is the latest player with Zimbabwean roots to rise through the ranks at Ipswich Town after midfielders Tristan Nydam and Kundai Benyu.
Photo Credit - ITV
On Saturday 14 November 2020, 18-year-old student Blessing Chitapa won The Voice UK 2020 in front of a virtual audience, landing the big prize of a recording contract with Universal. The competition had been put on hold over the HOUSE OF MUTAPA
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HoM NEWS summer due to the COVID19 pandemic just as Blessing was really coming into her own. She even celebrated her 18th birthday during the seven-month wait for the show to resume (which it did in October 2020) and came back stronger than ever under the mentorship of Olly Murs, who himself was also a reality TV singing show contestant with The X-Factor back in 2009.
Photo Credit-The Voice UK
Blessing was born in Zimbabwe and moved to the UK as a young girl. She lives in Dudley, Birmingham with her mother, an occupational therapist, father, a pastor and two siblings. She loves science and has previously said that if her ambitions to be a singer didn’t pan out, she would become a doctor. Now it looks like that may definitely remain a plan B! Back in 2018, another young Zimbabwean, Donel Mangena came second in the competition though he was a favourite to win.
Young Gamechanger in Medical Education, Malone Mukwende Continues to Soar… High
Photo Credit - ITV
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We cannot get enough of the brilliant Zimbabwean-born UK medical student Malone Mukwende (see HoM July & October editions). He came up with the concept of and co-authored Mind The Gap, a clinical handbook of signs and symptoms of disease in black and brown skins which has now been seen over 100, 000, 000 times on social media. On 24 October, he became a TEDx speaker as he spoke on the theme ‘Inspire’ at the independently organised TEDx event, TEDxYouth @CCHS. One week later he featured in a Black History Month special, Black & British on UK TV channel ITV as a modern pioneer; he spoke about what inspired him to create Mind The Gap and what it means to be black in Britain. “Growing up in Birmingham I noticed a lot of people in my community often had a lack of trust with the healthcare service. I slowly realised that a lot of this distrust was due to people being misdiagnosed.” Earlier this month, he became one of the youngest recipients of an Akindolie Medical Scholarship; this scholarship was founded by the children of a leading Nigerian doctor, Dr Frank Olufemi Akindolie. The objective of the award is to support aspiring doctors from a
HoM NEWS black background who not only excel academically but also give back to society.
Sharon Rose in Netflix Christmas Special
Zimbabwe’s Netball Team Captain Signs to UK Superleague Team for 2021
Photo Credit - Surrey Storm
Felisitus Kwangwa, the 25-year-old goal defender who was a standout player at the 2019 Netball World Cup in Manchester with three Player of the Match performances was this month signed to Surrey Storm, a UK netball team. The announcement was made by the team following her visa approval.
Photo Credit - stagefaves.com
This festive season catch the beautiful and talented singer with the big voice, Bulawayo’s Sharon Rose in the full-on festive musical Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. She plays Joanne Jangle, wife to Forest Whittaker’s character and toymaker Jeronicus Jangle
Photo Credit - Zimbabwe Netball News
The film features a largely black cast including Tony -award winners Phylicia Rashad of The Cosby Show and Anika Noni Rose of Dream Girls as well as British singer and actress Lisa Davina Philip and Keegan- Michael Key of Key and Peele.
Surrey Storm is based at the University of Surrey and were Superleague champions in 2015 and 2016. Felisitus will play for the 2021 season. Felisitus led the 2019 World Cup in deflections and was sixth for intercepts. Zimbabwe finished eighth in the championships and was named Team of the Tournament. HOUSE OF MUTAPA
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FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER
Name Tanaka Maxwell Chembezi Age 23
mind. So my photography acts as a voice for my subconscious mind.
Started photography 3 years ago
Favourite shots Shadows. I love to capture the intimacy between shadows and light.
Why photography It’s my way of illustrating the continuous battle which exists between the dark and good thoughts dwelling within my
Inspired by Sean Tucker’s work. He’s a photographer who also deeply appreciates the way light and shadows embrace one another.
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ARTS & CULTURE
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SHELTON MPALA
Redefining Africa’s Image HOUSE OF MUTAPA 10
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y Rhoda Molife rhoda@houseofmutapa.com Shelton Mpala is a Bulawayo-born entrepreneur, pan-African
activist and founder of Children of The Dark Continent (COTDC). COTDC is an online platform that’s redefining Africa’s image and re-telling the intimate stories of Africa through its people, history, natural beauty, language, fashion, food, arts and culture. In 2018, he started the ongoing petition against Disney’s application to trademark the Swahili phrase hakuna matata. Shelton, it’s great to have you here at House of Mutapa. What do you think birthed your need to start something like COTDC? I was fortunate to have grown up in Zimbabwe’s tourism industry with my dad holding a few senior management positions in the field. It meant I got to see almost every facet to the industry and meet a lot of tourists coming to Zimbabwe. I guess the need to showcase and share Africa to the world was instilled in me at a young age. As a child, your favourite past time was… Oh man, good question! Growing up, sports was a super big past time for me - from soccer to rugby to cricket. There were many school holidays spent outside playing cricket on the streets or any clear, dusty field we could bowl on. Growing up you were… …Exposed to life on both sides of the economic scale, as we would visit family members on both sides. I would go to the ‘loxions’ - that’s what we called the high-density suburbs - regularly with my grandmother who ran businesses. She literally taught me everything about entrepreneurship and the sacrifices you have to make. A deep love and respect for people was deeply embedded in me by her, regardless of who or what the person was, or where they were from. On a random note, I liked to create art with bits and pieces of discarded wire. Those young days were honestly some of the best days of my life. How would your family describe you? Ooooh (laughs)… wow… hmmm! Passionate and caring. I think those would be the first words to come to mind. I’m all about progression and
empowering my people. I don’t subscribe to a status quo. We are all bigger than our situations and we just have to have self-belief and enough passion to work hard. I always tell people that ‘the power and will behind your words will change the world.’ What was your first job? So, my first ever job was actually working for a sandwich delivery company in Central London called Darwin’s Deli. I would weave in and out of London traffic five days a week selling sandwiches to office workers and businesses, come rain or sun. And now…? Oh, maaan (smiling). So, I currently wear so many hats right now. I’m actually back in school doing a BA in Business and Society as well as working in retail banking part time. Then of course there is Children of The Dark Continent and a new venture I have recently partnered up on with DJ Touch of Soul, an Eswatini-born DJ based in Durban. We will be relaunching a clothing brand called Touch of Soul that I’m also extremely excited about. So definitely watch out for that. It should be dropping early 2021. Now let’s chat about COTDC - what was the ‘aha’ moment you knew you had to do this? So, COTDC really came about because of my frustration at always seeing a negative image of Africa that had been propagated by media and other people. It was either the Lion King narrative that all Africans have wild animals roaming in their backyards or the pro-foreign humanitarian image or the starving kids or conflict. These images or stories didn’t fully tell Africa’s story. Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie put it so well when she said, ‘The single story of Africa has created stereotypes and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story. So, I made it my purpose to re-tell that story of Africa to the world. Our culture, our language, our history, our music, our cuisine isn’t up for negotiation anymore. We should be proud of it and share it with the world. What is COTDC about? It’s about rewriting Africa’s story. Africa was called the ‘dark continent’ by early European HOUSE OF MUTAPA
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explorers as very little was known about it and its people. When we refer to ourselves as children of the dark continent, we are talking about an Africa unknown to the world. We are not referring to the colour of our skin because our Africa is a mosaic of ethnic groups.
“Our culture, our language, our history”
When was the movement founded and where is it based? I founded it in 2015 and it’s currently based in Toronto Canada. However, we have a worldwide network of contributors sharing and telling stories about their Africa. Which of your skillset did you find you needed to use the most in setting this up? Communication to be honest. It took a long time to really understand the true depth of what communication is. It goes further than just having a conversation or doing a blog post. It’s the imagery you use, the colour mood boards, the history and asking the right questions to spark a great debate or conversation. A highlight of the journey so far has been… …Wow, there have been quite a few. I guess the best so far has been the campaign I launched against Disney copyrighting the term hakuna matata. I got to learn how urgent it is that we Africans learn about intellectual property (IP) law, as well as the hundreds of millions lost due to not having IP rights. If you have Netflix, you must watch the documentary called The Lion’s Share based on the story of Solomon Linda, a South African singer, songwriter and composer of the song ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’. Her song has been used countless of times for many purposes, but she has not got the credit for writing or composing the song. Eventually though she got a settlement figure from Disney. And where are you up to with the petition? It’s still going. We now have over 230K signatures, but a substantial amount of protest will be needed to reverse Disney’s plans. For me, I hope that at least we Africans are more knowledgeable about the importance of IP law. What is the biggest challenge you face on the COTDC journey and how do you tackle it? The biggest challenge is always being able to curate the best content possible, as well as being as authentic as we can be. We are always looking to expand our pool of contributors to get a fuller picture of Africa from all aspects. It’s a huge challenge, but I’m up for the fight. How do you choose what to feature? HOUSE OF MUTAPA
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Features are really based on current events, people we meet in our network as well as up and coming talent we find. What do you love the most about our culture? Maan (smiling) ubuntu! To me it represents pure love not only for others but also a love for self. As they say, you can’t truly love someone unless you love yourself first. One thing about the African culture you didn’t know is… …There are far too many things to mention. I’m constantly learning new things every day. I’ve found so many new studies and books about African culture and history that have completely torn apart my former miseducation. What changes have you had to make during the COVID19 pandemic? I think the pandemic has really opened my eyes to just living a minimalistic life. Being locked up at home, you don’t need to buy all these fancy clothes because there’s nowhere to go. On a serious note though it’s also made me more aware of the importance of mental health. It’s something that we truly haven’t addressed as a community, but we need to right now. First thing you do in the morning is… I would love to say something motivational, but to be honest the first thing I do is check my phone for notifications, news and emails then plan my day accordingly. Last thing you do at night is… … Listen to an audio book or listen to some positive affirmations. I truly believe in feeding your
mind and making it grow as much as possible. What or who inspires you? People. There’s nothing more amazing than seeing people accomplish things that they thought they couldn’t. The other thing I like is seeing people that are genuinely happy even though they don’t have much. What’s the vision? For you, for COTDC? The vision is big! I would love to scale COTDC
to a place where we are creating and producing Afrocentric content for TV, radio and the online space at a world class level. Follow Shelton and COTDC here: Facebook: Children of The Dark Continent IG: @childrenofthedarkcontinent @sheltonmpala Twitter: @COTDC
“I truly believe in feeding your mind”
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YOUNG MUTAPA
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KENNEDY MADEVU The Graphic Designer
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ennedy Madevu is a 22-year-old graphic designer and digital painter born in Bulawayo. At three years old, he moved with his parents to London and has lived there ever since. He qualified as a graphic designer with a degree in illustration and graphic design from Coventry University in 2019 and now works for Methods, a digital data consultancy in the UK. We chatted about graphic design, family, the Zim-Brit experience and more. Read on and find out exactly what makes a talented artist tick! By Rhoda Molife rhoda@houseofmutapa.com
On Childhood and Family As a child, your favourite time was… …Being at primary school. Everything was so simple, and life felt like a massive, fun party every day. Growing up you were… … Very independent and loved doing practical art and crafts. How would your family describe you? They would say I’m a proactive and determined individual that loves challenges. Does artistic talent run in the family? Personally, I think because Zimbabwe has beautiful people, incredible wildlife, a beautifil landscape, good food and a rich culture, it means its people must have a creative trait. So yes, I do think artistic talent runs in the family. Having said that my dad is a super football fanatic who proudly chants, “Let’s go Chelsea!” around the house. My mother absolutely loves film and cartoon animation and a good creative story. My brothers are hyper-energetic and do lots of sport.
On Graphic Design What’s the inspiration behind becoming a graphic designer?
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I believe people naturally become a product of their surroundings. I became fascinated by adverts and about what goes on behind the scenes to create them. Adverts have always caught my attention and inspire me to experiment. How’s a graphic designer different from an artist or painter? A graphic designer is a jack of all trades and can be either super versatile or super specific. It really depends on what specialty of the field you end up in. However, in general, graphic designers define the requirements of a commercial project by assembling typography, illustrations, logos, layouts, photos or animated graphics. The whole idea of what we do is to convey a clear but creative visual message to a targeted audience. What skills make for a good graphic designer? There are so many because there are different aspects to the field. Personally, I think it’s first important to know which specialty to go into. From there you can then get an understanding of the skills needed. Apart from my degree, these are the skills that have helped me so far: tolerance towards constructive criticism, a flexible digital design skill set, being sociable so that you can negotiate and get on the same page with a client and being organised to deliver projects on time. Happy energy is really important. Projects and life events can clash and seriously affect the motion of creativity. So, it’s good to be aware of your emotions and mindset because the mind is the superpower behind all that you design. What have been some of your challenges? Trying to establish myself. Another one is hitting big creative goals. How do you hit those goals? By setting small goals and understanding that each time I complete one, I achieve a new skill. All the new skills combine and snowball towards that one big goal. What are you liking so far about what you do? I really enjoy brand identity design. It’s helped me focus on how to design graphics that the audience can clearly understand. A favourite project you worked on was… … A kickstarter clothing brand, Laminous, that sells a glow in the dark pyjama t-shirt. And what’s your favourite subject matter to
recreate/draw? Anything related to space or sci-fi because the genre is so free and open to interpretation. What don’t you like so much?! Artistic jealousy! It’s such a negative trait that affects career development and creativity. Three top tips for someone who wants to go into graphic design are… … Be proactive. Work smart and not hard. Develop the mindset that what you do is fun and not a task.
thing new. By late afternoon after work is done, I’m relaxing with chilled music while drawing on my iPad. First thing you do in the morning is… … Cardio to fully wake myself up. Last thing you do at night is… … Brush my teeth. Who or what inspires you?
About Kennedy
My parents because they encourage me to think freely, support me and show nothing but respect for what I do. So, I aspire to only make them proud.
What’s a typical day like for you?
To stay motivated, you…
First, I go to the gym early in the morning then maybe play some basketball with friends. Some days I teach my youngest brother to cook some-
… Keep mentally healthy by exercising, socialising and rewarding myself. I try to surround myself with positive creatives too; they don’t have HOUSE OF MUTAPA 17
to be graphic designers but just people who are positive and aspire to make a change. What are your thoughts about being a young Zimbabwean in the UK? What’s special about that experience? Young Zimbabweans in general don’t really have major mainstream role models to look to for advice. Sometimes for us, striving for greatness can feel like shining a torch in pitch darkness. However, the support and love from fellow Zimbos is incredible even if they don’t really understand what you’re doing! I like how they show appreciation for the things you might be passionate about. It just makes you feel like anything is possible. What can you as a young black man bring to HOUSE OF MUTAPA
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the field? A different view especially by highlighting where the black culture isn’t represented or represented correctly. Of course, I can’t speak for all black people but I hope I can show an understanding of and a respect and professionalism for my upbringing and culture. What’s the vision? To own a digital creative agency business with a couple of incredibly skilled friends. Follow Kennedy here: IG : kennedymadevu LinkedIn: Kennedy Madevu
“Artistic Heritage”
Tanaka Maxwell Chembezi
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COVER STORY
JOHN COLE 21st Century Dance-preneur
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B
y Rhoda Molife rhoda@houseofmutapa.com
John Cole is the dynamic 32-year-old award-winning dancer and choreographer who is transforming the face of modern dance and brand creation in Zimbabwe. He’s ascended from garden boy and street vendor to headlining shows with leading national artists and international performers as well as staging his own dance productions. His skill and agility also flow from the dancefloor to the ‘boardroom’. The success of the video for Tytan and Ammara Brown’s ‘Mukoko’ that he choreographed, led him to work with several organisations on deals and endorsements including Barclays Bank and Coca-Cola. In addition, he had a stint as a brand ambassador for the cinema Ster Kinekor Zimbabwe. More recently, he has opened a PR and digital marketing agency that works with artists and companies. Find out about what makes for a dance-preneur in our epic conversation below.
JC On Childhood Let’s talk about your family origins and history. We’re originally from Ireland. Really?! Yes! Ireland. My great-grandfather, Ephraim, came down from Ireland and as Trevor Noah would say, ‘liked the chocolate’, and my grandfather John Cole was conceived. My grandfather was born in Shamva – that’s where our homestead is. Then there’s my father Philip and my mom Beverly. They died when I was young and us kids (three sisters and two brothers) were raised by my grandmother for some time. I’m married to Cindy Cole and we have two children Avant and Duncan, so, we are five generations of Coles. As a child, your favourite past time was… … listening to Michael Jackson on the radio, cassette style (laughs). And I loved playing with pegs which would exasperate my mum. I was actually a loner… that played with pegs. HOUSE OF MUTAPA 22 Photo Credit - Eagle Media Solutions
Growing up you were… … a cry baby. At one point I was the only boy amongst my sisters. I was strong but not tough and got bullied a lot, but when I was about 16, I found each and every person that had bullied me and dealt with them. Before becoming a full-time dancer and choreographer, you were… … a garden boy, vendor and maid. I was hustling with my friend when I was around 12 or 13. We would go around selling mazhange and mangoes. I even sold CDs at one point. We needed the money because we weren’t so well off growing up. My parents had died and we were raised by my grandmother. We were like orphans though family did help when they could. My grandmother had to really fend for us.
sity. Performing on stages with amazing artists and being recognised for my innovation – that’s my graduation. So, the streets are my education, and everything just fell into line. The moment you knew you had to dance for a living was when… … I had my first child. I hadn’t been paid by an artist I was working for, so I didn’t have much when he was born. A cousin gave me a few baby things to take to the hospital. I remember my wife giving me this look of… not disapproval but like, ‘you did the best you could.’ Needless to say, I left that gig.
JC On Dance
Having my second child felt like my redemption as a father. When he was born, I took him aside and whispered that ‘from today, I vow that I will never let you suffer.’ So, my sons made me become the best I could be and today they keep me going.
Did you train to be a dancer?
Why dance?
I have no formal training in dance and that’s the truth. I learnt from watching others or just inventing my own moves. That’s how I managed to create the ‘skoro skoro’ and ‘shi shi’ and ‘tamba’ moves.
I actually wanted to be a cricket player, but injury put an end to that. Looking back, I would have been just a cricket player and not done any better than I have today. With dance I’ve had an impact on communities and I wouldn’t have done that in cricket. I feel God really gave me this gift and I had to use it.
The streets were my education with high school being the performances and I would say interacting with others and gaining fans was univer-
Why do I dance? I dance for my family, so they
“I’m a doer not a talker”
Photo Credit - The Guys Had A Spat
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Photo Credit - Peter
don’t have to go through what I did growing up. What was your first dance performance?
vehicle that makes me the entrepreneur. Dance opens the door and when I walk into the room, the entrepreneur emerges.
I don’t really remember – maybe at the Girl’s High… or in a bar somewhere.
The attitude in Zimbabwe for dance choreography is…
What made you leap from dancer to choreographer to dance-preneur? Hunger for more. I’m always wanting more, I’m always gearing for more, I’m always eager for more, I’m always energetic for more. It’s insanity in my house… and I’m always awake. Right now, it’s like 1am and I’m awake… Seriously though, I feel that we all have to evolve so it was inevitable. Dancer to choreographer was really hard as one has to understand dance. You have to feel music and feel part of it and understand how it’s created. I understand music in a different way so that’s why I’ve been able to choreograph unique pieces. Choreographer to dance-preneur was because I wanted to be unique. No one had really taken dance seriously before me and I wanted to make a change and that’s not bragging but fact. I became the first choreographer to headline with big artists. I wanted to change the game to impact an industry so that it became a brandable, sellable and visible art.
… It’s now being taken seriously. What was your biggest lesson from the controversy about winning those dance awards? I learnt to prove that I’m good at what I do. I take what I do seriously and stay 20 steps ahead of the person behind. The other thing I learnt was that talking doesn’t get the job done, doing does. I’m a doer and not a talker… except for this interview (laughs). What’s the motivation? My sons. Nothing beats my children and my family. Then there’s being a better person. Then building a legacy. I wasn’t left a legacy. The only legacy I have is… well, nothing Rhoda… nothing. There was no guidance. So, I don’t just dance for me, I dance to leave something behind. Your most memorable collaboration is… … (laughs) You’re putting me on the spot here! ‘Ngoro’ with Cynthia Mare followed by ‘Skoro Skoro’ with Lee Mchoney.
What makes you a dance-preneur?
Your most unusual dance performance was…
The brandability and the visibility and the fact that you are a selling point for an event. I always make sure that whatever I do has a dramatic impact on the next thing. So, I’ve catapulted myself from dance to music and acting and hosting and even brand management. The dance is the
… (laughing) As a male entertainer, not a stripper! Let’s say I could put Channing Tatum and the whole cast of Magic Mike to shame. Legit. If you want to argue the fact, put some money and I’ll do the ‘tings!
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What collaboration are you most looking forward to doing?
What lessons from your parents do you pass on to your children?
International and regional collaborations.
My mother’s lesson of kindness.
What does it take physically and mentally to be a dancer/choreographer in Zimbabwe?
What new lessons do you teach them?
It takes everything and more. Physically you have to be strong. Mentally you have to be angelic-level strong. You see a lot of people, you’re under a lot of pressure so you have to keep sane. How do I keep sane? I watch animation on TV with my children. You need a lot… some zingato superpower! In fact, what do you need to be a creative in Zimbabwe? You need ‘errthang!’ Why did you do John Cole Live? I felt like I needed to do something different as well as learn something new. You’ve now also moved into music – tell us about the drive behind that?
Stand up for yourself to be counted and work hard. In fact, I sometimes take them to work and pay them so they know how important it is to work for what you want. What or who inspires you? Colours, noises, sounds, TV, something someone says. Usher. Chris Brown. Michael Jackson – my mother taught me to dance like him. Oliver Mtukudzi. Burna Boy. Wizkid. Two big changes you’ve had to make during the COVID19 pandemic are… …I shot a second concert called John Cole Plugged In and started online dance classes. What’s the vision?
I wanted to alleviate the pressure of performing to other people’s music and just have freedom to create.
To go global. To evolve. To create a legacy. To put dance on equal footing with other art forms.
Three top tips for would be dancers, dance-preneurs and choreographers are…
IG: @johncoleofficial
… Stay in your lane. Be professional. Work damn hard.
Twitter: @iamjohncole
JC on JC First thing you do in the morning is…
Follow John here: Facebook: John Cole Tiktok: @johncoleofficial YouTube: @johncoleofficial
…Switch on my cell phone then shout at my kids to wake up for school. Then we pray. I have a serious prayer warrior – wifey. What’s a day like for you? After hitting social media, I go to a rehearsal then another rehearsal then a meeting, then meetings, meetings, meetings. Then another rehearsal, then a video call with a client. Basically, my days are full of rehearsals, meetings and rehearsals, performances and concerts. Last thing you do at night is… … Perhaps chat with a client or watch TV. Or eat. I tend to do odd things last thing at night. How would your wife describe you? (laughs loudly, then asks her) Hardworking. How would your sons describe you? Crazy daddy. HOUSE OF MUTAPA 25 Photo Credit - Mushvisuals
POLITICS
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ADAM JOGEE HOUSE OF MUTAPA 27
Photo Credit - Haringey Council
MEET THE NEW MAYOR IN TOWN
B
y Rhoda Molife rhoda@houseofmutapa.com
In October 2020, Adam Jogee was elected Mayor of Haringey, a borough in North London in the United Kingdom. He is the youngest mayor of the borough for a generation. The mayor in Haringey is elected by the Full Council, which means all 57 members on Haringey Council and from all parties. Before the vote takes place, each party nominates their candidates. As the Labour Party has a large majority in the Council Chamber, Adam said that his ‘real battle was winning the Labour nomination.’ He did and here he is now. So, how did he feel when he was nominated? “It was very moving listening to the official proposing and seconding of my nomination. Two colleagues, Elin Weston and Peray Ahmet, nominated and seconded me and it was, as I say, very moving hearing all the nice things they had to say about me.” By the time of the meeting of the Full Council, with the nomination, it was sort of a formality. However, Adam admits that it was still nerve-wrecking and a bit scary. “I was very grateful that the opposition supported my election too – and actually say a big thanks to them all now.” “It was particularly moving that Haringey elected a black man as Mayor on October 1st – the first day of Black History Month in the UK.” So, who is this rising, young black politician? Well, he is not new to the game. Prior to being elected to mayor, he was a Labour Party councillor for six years. In fact, his political aspirations go back to primary school! “My journey probably started with being elected to the school council at primary school – although I didn’t win at the first attempt, or the second actually. I was elected on the third go when we were in the final year. I like to think they saved the best till last!” His parents were also great friends with Barbara Roche, the former MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, and so he grew up seeing Barbara at events and volunteering in her office after school. Adam is the eldest of three with a sister sandwiched between him and his brother. He was born and bred in Hornsey, North London to what he describes as two ‘brilliant’ parents. HOUSE OF MUTAPA 28
I asked Adam what he was like as a child, to understand what informs someone to want to serve their community. “For one I was a chatterbox, but I did always feel an intense interest in other people and what they were doing, how they were, that sort of thing. My reception class teacher wrote in my end of year report back in the mid-90s that ‘Adam is evidently a bright child but at the end of each class he has nothing on his paper because he has spent the whole lesson walking around helping other pupils and seeing what they were up to.’ I like to think I was a good kid though.” “We are blessed with a rich and diverse background!” One thing that has certainly contributed to Adam’s calling is his diverse background and upbringing. His mother is half-Jamaican and half-white and his father is half-Indian and half-Zimbabwean. A favourite pastime of his as a child was reading, something influenced by his parents. “I read newspapers, books, magazines, comics, anything I could get my hands on. I think it was a mixture of the way my parents brought us up, to always ask questions and to further our knowledge and understanding of the world outside, and also being nosy.” And growing up, he had the privilege of the full experience of that background. “For me, Zimbabwe was about walking around my grand-
Outside the UK Parliament with Nelson Chamisa, Tendai Biti and David Coltard
parents’ garden in Harare – it’s the house that my dad grew up in and where we were always based, and still do base ourselves when in Zim. The house is still in the family and I always feel a huge connection with the soil and the land when I’m there.” One of his favourite pastimes as a child was listening to the stories told by his grandparents who he describes as ‘amazing people that taught me so much.’ As for memories of Jamaica, these reflect the modern history of Jamaicans in the UK. “My grandfather came to England in the early 1940s and so by the time I started visiting, most of the immediate family had passed on. But there is something wonderful about Jamaica. The people, the food, the culture and the fierce sense of national pride and identity. Once a Jamaican, always a Jamaican! For me, family is the best word to sum up my fondest memories. And food!” So, how does he celebrate his dual heritage? “Celebrate almost sounds like it’s something that happens like a birthday or an anniversary. I prefer to use the word embrace.” We like that word too! “As kids we were lucky in that my parents ensured we knew our extended family, we knew
our grandparents and we visited Zimbabwe regularly.” They also visited Jamaica a couple of times as children, but he has had more regular visits as an adult. “So yes, I embrace it and I live it. I often talk about Zimbabwe and I often talk about Jamaica. I also talk about my late granny growing up in and coming from Birkenhead on the Wirral and so all the elements of my background are constantly on my mind and inspire and influence me every day.” It was actually his grandmother Elsie Owen who inspired Adam’s move into politics – a woman he describes as ‘wonderful strong, powerful, inspiring and kind.’ “My grandfather, her husband, died when I was almost five and so I didn’t get to know him in quite the way I would have wanted but as the youngest grandchild, before my siblings rocked up, it meant I had lots of time with my granny. She was an absolute factor in why I chose politics.’ In fact, all four of his grandparents are his political heroes as is Nelson Mandela who he met twice. In addition to his grandmother’s influence, he says that the fact that he had a big mouth and was always interested in people led him down the path of service! HOUSE OF MUTAPA 29
“My friends, and particularly my better half Alison, will tell you I’m always late. Not because I am disrespectful but because I bump into people and I seem to be completely incapable of only saying hi.” I had to ask Adam what’s special or unique about being British-Zimbabwean-Jamaican. “Three things – me, my sister and brother. I’m not sure there are any other combinations like ours and we are damn lucky that we can go to most continents on our planet and claim to be home!” We know who we are, where we are from and the stories, legacies and history behind our family’s story. What was the family’s reaction to the news of his election? “As you can imagine, my parents and wider family were delighted. And still seem to be! I found out recently that my aunt has a scrap book with all the newspaper clippings of everything I’ve done, which is cute. So yes, they are all very proud and it feels good to do something that makes your family happy. Dad has changed his WhatsApp picture to one of me in my chain!” Haringey is one of the most diverse boroughs in North London and is home to Alexandra Palace and Tottenham Hotspurs Football Club. Adam has lived there all his life so for him, it is an honour to serve a community that helped raise him. He describes it as a community ‘full of wonderfully creative and talented people and one with a ‘big heart’. “The response to the coronavirus pandemic for one has been extraordinary. On a HOUSE OF MUTAPA 30
visit to the volunteers at the Selby Centre in Tottenham, I was inspired by the amazing machine that is the food bank there, supporting residents in tough times.” To him, this is what makes Haringey special, the fact that most of its residents care and ‘will never walk by on the other side.’ “Haringey is diverse, it’s open, it’s inclusive, and it’s home.” We asked Adam what are two things he wants to achieve in his new position? One is he wants to be a strong and loud voice for everyone in Haringey – ‘champion all the good and make noise where I need to.’ Another is that he wants to show that the ‘black, bearded Muslim son of immigrants can lead, can succeed and that times are finally changing’. For him this is important as it sets a tone for future generations. As is the case with most journeys, there have been challenges. What’s been a big one for him? Haters. He recalls an incident when a colleague briefed lies about him to the press that created a storm. “It took a while to accept that not everyone will like you all the time.” How does he deal with it specifically? Focusing on the job at hand. There will always be those that ‘chat nonsense, cuss you and brief against you,’ but from his point of view that sort of behaviour says more about them than the recipient. What will a man of colour bring to politics that’s unique? “I bring my own perspective and set of experiences to politics and that is what’s important. My role is to serve everyone in Haringey
From Hampstead to Highgate Express
and to do that we need to ensure the elected representatives look like, live with and understand the communities they want to serve.” And being younger than most of his colleagues, he hopes to bring a fresh pair of eyes and some energy. For a young person of colour who aspires to be a politician, he has three pieces of advice – ‘know your power, speak up and never be afraid.’ Considering that many of us have no faith in the political system or politicians, I asked Adam how he will help restore some sort of semblance of belief in the system. “I’m very clear that my role as a politician is to make lives better, to show that things can be done differently and to champion success and challenge injustice wherever we find them. So much hurt, concern and inaction have seen people lose faith and it’s incumbent on people like me to do all we can to restore
it. I get that and work every day to do so. Despite the limitations that the current pandemic brings – like meetings being limited to the virtual space, Adam is fully immersing himself into his role. No day is the same and he loves that. You can tell that for him it really is an honour to serve and from what we see he will bring that change we all need to see. “The vision? A better, stronger, more just and decent world!” Follow Adam here: IG: jogeeadam Twitter: ajogee Website: https://www.haringey.gov.uk/local-democracy/councillors-and-mps/mayors-page HOUSE OF MUTAPA 31
MUSIC
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ANDERSON & AFTER5RADIO HOUSE OF MUTAPA 33
B
y
How would your family describe you?
Rhoda Molife
I think they’d say I’m sociable, outgoing and patient. Yeah, they would say patient, patient, patient.
rhoda@houseofmutapa.com After5Radio is an online platform for
Zimbabwean artists based in the diaspora that celebrates their music and talents with other Zimbabweans all over the world. Founded by Anderson Nyamande in 2017, the mission is to create a network of artists, listeners, sponsors and advertisers with global influence and who are invested in Zimbabwe. As a lifestyle, talk and music station, After5Radio focuses on authenticity, creativity and relationships. Anderson was born and bred in Mutare in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. He has a BSc in Business Computing and Information Systems from the University of Central Lancashire and an Advanced Diploma in Leadership and Management from Brentwood Open Learning College, both in the UK. Anderson has 16 years’ experience in the IT industry and is married with two children. Share a little about you Anderson. I was born and bred in Mutare and am the fifth of six children. My father lives in Mutare but my mother passed away in 2010. As a child, your favourite past time was… … Going back and forth kumusha during the holidays and eating all those delicacies like runi, munyevhe, muboora and mbambaira. I miss those things and wish I could get them now to share with my own family. Growing up you were… … Energetic, playful, sometimes too playful and naughty but not that naughty (laughs)! What was your first job? I was a computer technician back in 2004 in Mutare. I learnt how to fix and maintain computers at Mutare Poly. That was 16 years ago… years ago! What do you do now? I’m now an IT systems engineer. I’ve remained in the IT world since my first job and have grown in the industry ever since.
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“…The radio stations would either play the track once or not at all. After that happened a few times, I realised something was wrong” What’s the inspiration/motivation behind After5 Radio? What was the ‘aha’ moment you knew you had to do this? Back in 2016, my friend Peter Thulani Mutsemi, an IT specialist by day and part time musician and music producer based in Texas, used to send me his music to pass on to local stations for some airplay. But the stations would either play the track once or not at all. After that happened a few times, I realised something was wrong. That was the ‘aha’ moment. Having a strong IT background, I decided to research how radio stations were run. Of course, I thought of starting a terrestrial station but then I realised I could do it much easier online. I searched and searched and researched how to do it and looked for other musicians and found plenty! I’d figured if Thulani was having this issue, so would others and for me this was a problem that I could do something about. When was the station founded and where is it based? In 2017 and it’s all online. I run it from Zimbabwe. Had you done any radio work before? The simple answer is no! But a certain passion drove and guided me to this point.
What’s the radio station about? Well, we’re about promoting Zimbabwean artists in the diaspora and at home. Wherever they are, we need to make them known globally and locally. People need to know about Tinashe, Sha Sha, Peter Thulani. Some may not be born in Zimbabwe, but they identify with Zimbabwe and they fly our flag high. We also have talk shows that feature lifestyle and entertainment stories. A highlight of the journey so far on radio has been… … The whole journey has been great so far. Partnering with Tafadzwa Mukoyi has been a highlight. Since September 2017, we were on auto play until we decided to go live this year. For that, we did a global search for presenters and got some great ones. Recently, we partnered with The Ryan Show FM, a nationally syndicated radio show that is played on 200 stations in the US. It’s hosted by Ryan Verneuille and co-hosted by Mr Cheeks, a Grammy award-winning rapper and New York socialite Hampton Dave. The show plays on our station and we support each other with publicity. Launching as a live station on 7 September 2020 was a real highlight. “When you select a team, the aim is to get people who are better than you are because you have limitations. It helps you learn, grow and get to your goal faster.” How did you select the presenters and shows you have now? Let me first say this. When you select a team, the aim is to get people who are better than you are because you have limitations. You must work with people who are experts at what they do. It helps you learn, grow and get to your goal faster. Tafadzwa and I put out an open audition globally for presenters on all our social media platforms, YouTube and even WhatsApp. The number of applications was shocking… over 100 for 12 spots. The competition was tight, but we eventually made the selection based on passion; the passion that came through on the interview and hearing how they may sound on their own show. And guess what, none had radio experience! They are learning with us. We gave them the opportunity to select as well as co-produce their own shows. From our point of view, they are a brand that we promote, and we encourage them to use our platform to make their brand
visible. So far, the reviews have been great. People tell us they love our diversity and how different we are. There’s no doubt we are diverse with presenters from the UK, Canada, Norway, Botswana and home that cover a range of topics and time zones. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced and how did you tackle it? Social media and tackling how to handle it. It’s really something for millennials! But we worked it out and learnt how to really use it to our advantage especially through communicating on the platforms effectively. This is how you and I and House of Mutapa connected and here we are. We can really see how these platforms have raised the profile of our brand. Why the focus on diasporean music when music in Zimbabwe is thriving? Well, yes music in Zimbabwe is thriving but it’s limited to certain genres. It’s different from the ‘90s when there was so much diversity on radio. Today, music from the Zimbabwean diaspora is not appreciated back home. People ask us if there is enough diasporian music to warrant a station. The truth is that there is a large pool of talented musicians out there that reflect diversity and represent multiple genres. We actually have too much content! We’re getting emails every day with new submissions of music from established and new musicians… and it’s a lot and it’s great! With all else that we have, why is radio still so appealing? Well even though we have all the other music platforms, they just play music. People still like HOUSE OF MUTAPA 35
the interaction you get on radio with a presenter who can introduce the artist, talk about what they are up to and share their stories with you. It’s like having a one-on-one with the presenter instead of just listening to tracks. “It’s not an 8-to-5 day but a 24-hour thing” What’s a typical day like for you? It starts with a morning jog. Then after a shower, I check the station’s schedule for the day and emails followed by time on social media. I also have to be on standby if a presenter has any technical problems. It’s definitely not an 8-to-5 day but a 24-hour thing! In between, I have daddy duties as my wife is away and I’m here in Zimbabwe with the children. Those duties actually spice up your day (laughs). Who would be a dream guest to have on your station? That would be Tinashe Kachingwe. She has set the bar so high, very high for Zimbabwean music but in a way that makes it look achievable. You can see the paper trail of how she got here and that’s in part due to hard work and family support. One thing about her is that she wants to be recognised as Zimbabwean and in some of her US interviews, she speaks and sings in Shona to express her culture. In some ways she’s communicating back home to say, ‘guys I’m part of you’. She’s really an inspiration. Three top tips on how to run a station effectively are… … Have passion for what you’re doing. Be committed and don’t be swayed. Be consistent because consistency leads to integrity which is phenomenal. Radio stations are foolproof during a pandemic… true or false? To a certain degree they are. Our presenters are global, and we all have to co-ordinate and have the same vision. I think this is what makes us foolproof, the fact that we have a common vision. Due to the pandemic, most people are working from home and probably listening to radio more than just watching TV. We actually started broadcasting live during the pandemic and we’re growing fast. Last thing you do at night is… … have a call with my wife, the queen, who is based in the US where she is pursuing her dream whilst I’m pursuing mine here. We catch HOUSE OF MUTAPA 36
up with each other’s day and pillow talk…yup! What’s the vision? For you, for your family, for After5 Radio, for Zimbabwean music? To achieve greatness for all those things. “Be consistent because consistency leads to integrity which is phenomenal.” Listen to After5Radio here: Android App - After5radio TuneIn - After5radio Amazon Alexa Skills - “Alexa, open after five radio” iLand Music App - https://ilandmusic.com/radio/47 Follow After5Radio here: Website - https://www.after5radio.net/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCJ33trRFRlr1qUtETnFqwHA SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/after5-radio MixCloud - https://www.mixcloud.com/after5radio/ Instagram - after5radiozim Facebook - @after5radio Twitter - @after5radio LinkedIn - after5radio
“Dream On Wheels”
Tanaka Maxwell Chembezi HOUSE OF MUTAPA 37
“Heavenly Signs”
Tanaka Maxwell HOUSE OF MUTAPA Chembezi 38
HEALTH
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LET’S TALK ABOUT BREAST CANCER IN MEN
B
y Vannesa Y Moosa vannesach@gmail. com
Zimbabwe’s new ‘twin evils’ (alongside cervical cancer), causing around 1,000 deaths per year: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/breast-cervical-cancer-zimbabwe-s-new-twin-evils/1621993
October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual international health campaign organised by major breast cancer charities all around the world to increase awareness of the disease. The campaign also aims to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure and offers information and support to those affected by the disease. Every year, BCAM starts on October 1 and ends on October 31, and is symbolised by the pink ribbon.
About 1-3 out of every 100 breast cancers is diagnosed in men Breast cancer arises when abnormal cells grow out of control to form a cancer that usually manifests as a lump. It’s the most common cancer worldwide in women and the second most common overall. Though the rate of this disease is highest in western countries than it is in the Middle East and Africa, it is rising rapidly in the latter as well as other countries. An article published a year ago described breast cancer as one HOUSE OF MUTAPA 40
Usually, when we hear about breast cancer, we think of it as a disease that only affects women. Indeed, breast cancer is mostly found in women, but men can get it too. Although it is rare, about 1-3 out of every 100 breast cancers cases diagnosed are found in men. However, the outlook is not as good as it is in women. This may be related to the fact that as awareness of the condition in men is poor, it may take longer to diagnose. Often a significant delay in diagnosis gives time for the cancer to spread to other parts of the body making it incurable. Research also suggests that the disease
may be more biologically aggressive in men. However, the types of breast cancer found in men are the same as those found in women. What are the symptoms? The most common symptoms of breast cancer in men are: * Lump or swelling in the breast * Redness, flakiness, irritation or dimpling of the skin over the breast * Nipple discharge * Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area Although these symptoms can happen with other illnesses that are not cancer, they always have to be checked out by a doctor. What causes breast cancer in men? Like most cancers, the exact cause is not clear, but there are risk factors that increase the chances of getting it. Having these risk factors does not mean you will definitely get breast cancer though. Here are the most common: * Age - most cases are found in men over the age of 50 * Family history - the chances of getting cancer increase if several close relatives also have the disease * Genes - a faulty gene may increase the risk of breast cancer. The most commonly affected genes are BRCA1 and BRCA2. Only about 5% of breast cancer cases are related to these genes and not everyone with a faulty gene will get breast cancer * Obesity - this increases the risk in both men and women and for other cancers too How is breast cancer in men treated? The same as it is in women. When diagnosed at an early stage it can often be treated successfully with surgery. You may have heard of a mastectomy when the whole breast is removed or a lumpectomy when just the lump is removed (only if it is below a certain size). Sometimes further treatment is needed after surgery such as hormone therapy – you may have heard of the hormone drug tamoxifen, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. One or any combination of these three treatments can be used depending on how high the risk of the cancer coming back is. The idea is to mop up any cancer cells that may be left behind after sur-
gery. Treatment is more difficult if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The most common sites of spread are to the lymph nodes, lungs, bone and liver Unfortunately, many cases are diagnosed after the cancer has already started to spread. Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice though hormonal therapy and radiotherapy can also be used depending on the type of breast cancer, where the spread is and what the patient’s symptoms are. Sometimes surgery may even be used if spread is very limited. However, when the cancer has spread, cure is not possible. How can I reduce my risk of getting cancer? The most effective way of doing this is to: * Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all * Stop smoking * Maintain a healthy weight with a balanced diet and regular excercise Raising breast cancer awareness for men is especially important as it remains a difficult cancer to treat. Although not as common in men, they should still be aware of the symptoms and know when to get checked and how to minimize their risks of getting this disease. Finally‌ In Zimbabwe, research and statistics used to guide the current national cancer response are based on foreign studies. It is therefore crucial for the nation to develop and run local studies which are likely to be more applicable and relevant to our population. This is one of the objectives of the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ). CAZ which was founded in 1961 to raise awareness of breast cancer, support patients and families and provide educational resources. The organisation continues to call for collaborations with institutions of higher learning, research funding institutions, medical practitioners, research institutions, pharmacists, epidemiologists and any other individuals and institutions that are interested to jointly venture into cancer research. To donate to the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe visit https://www.cancerzimbabwe. org/
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“Urban Water Spirits”
Tanaka Maxwell Chembezi HOUSE OF MUTAPA 42
WRITER’S CORNER
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BEN SIBANDA Telling the Real Stories of Zimbabwe
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B
y
time. For him, these early times and memories are when his story-telling skills began to take Vannesa Y Moosa root, although back then he thought writing was just for the very intelligent. “I always saw writBenjamin Sibanda is ing as nothing more than a bit of fun. I started one of Zimbabwe’s writing seriously when I realised that I had most prolific writers well known for writing something important to say.” reality-based fiction After completing his studies at Nyatsime College novels that speak not and a brief stint in a radio factory in Bulawayo, only to Zimbabweans but to all Africans. He is he went on to study economics at University the award-winning author of When Freedom College in Cardiff, now known as University of Came, an account of a young man’s experience Wales. After six years, he returned to an indeof independence, and Whose Land Is It Anyway pendent Zimbabwe served a stint in government about land reform in Zimbabwe. In 2017, the lat- – an experience from which he would later draw ter won a national award for outstanding fiction from for his work. in Zimbabwe and is on the curriculum for the Today he is a farmer and husband and finds master’s program on literature and land at the balance by focusing on his duties and chores University of Zimbabwe. during the day and then working on his reading Benjamin’s beginnings and life experiences and writing in the middle of the night, “when it’s that span both the pre- and post-independence at its most quiet and there is no wife to give adera serve as a backdrop to his journey into vice.” He laughs. Having said that, she has given literature. He is the youngest of five children, him the best advice so far which is ‘If something though only three remain alive, and his parents is not working, try something different.’ “I candivorced when he was a young child. As a renot say that I’ve always taken the advice but in sult, he lived with his grandparents, initially in my saner moments, I believe it to be very good Zimuto, Masvingo Province and then Mariranadvice.” gwe, one of the so-called Native Purchase Areas; Now that he is in a position to also give advice, these were areas that under the Land Apportionment Act of 1930 were set aside for purchase what would he say to his younger self? “Have more confidence in your abilities, trust yourself; by the ‘natives’ – the Africans to whom the land I think I still need that advice even today. The belonged to anyway. other thing I would tell myself is to bath more He grew up facing ridicule from his peers main- often. Fortunately, I outgrew my fear of water!” ly because of what he calls a ‘comical mixed dialect’. His grandparents, originally from Lower Gweru spoke isiNdebele but having lived and pastored in Masvingo, also spoke Chikaranga. “Speaking a language that was a mixture of the two among the Zezurus of Marirangwe must have sounded quite strange and funny too!” Talking to him now, one would wonder where the comical dialect disappeared to. One of his earliest memories is of a misplaced and uninformed fear of albinos. “Around 1956 whilst travelling by train as we moved from Masvingo I came face to face with John White, an albino who used to play the guitar and sing on trains - what in England they would call this busking. I was terrified of the man and for a long time after that I was completely scared of white people!” Another memory is of spending lonely periods on the farm writing to pass the HOUSE OF MUTAPA 45
Ben is soon to publish his third book, Escape From Freedom, a book he dedicates to victims of all forms of political violence in Africa, and to the many Africans who perish as they flee from the ‘freedom’ they fought so hard for. In addition, he has already started his fourth book, a sequel to When Freedom Came and has also been commissioned to write the history of Marirangwe. To cap it all, talks are underway to write a screenplay based on Whose Land Is It Anyway. With writers like Ben penning stories about life, history and heritage what does he see as the future of the reading culture in Zimbabwe? “I think a major drawback is that we’ve never really had a culture of reading without an end in mind. In school, colleges, and universities, people read to pass exams without necessarily gaining knowledge. Reading for leisure and, per chance, to relieve some of the stresses that people face, is therefore at the bottom of the pile. Of course, the advent of the internet and social media means that most people do not really have to read. I don’t know how that can be
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changed.’ Follow Ben here: IG: bensibanda Facebook: Ben Sibanda Website: www.benjaminsibanda.net LinkedIn: Benjamin Sibanda 3rd
“Urban Ancestors”
Tanaka Maxwell Chembezi
HOUSE OF MUTAPA 47
