IN six days we will bade farewell to the year 2016; in my view, like before, it is pertinent to look back at what we have done and achieved essentially to see why the challenges are still glaring their ugly heads in the running of theatre in Zambia!
Like the proverbial saying, we need to learn from the past;So let’s go back to 2016.
Noticeably outstanding in 2016 were the usual sunny plays at Chingola Arts Society, the Mwansabombwe Theatre festival which seemingly has replaced the Yezi Arts Promotions of the April International theatre festival, Nkana-Arts Society’s Mopani Copper Mines industrial play The Mopani Way,Barefeet Theatre’s performance of A Midnight Summer’s Dream and NAPSA’s Red in the Flag.
In Kasama, Kasama Arts Theatre continued to trigger drama as one of the most dynamic rural-set groups (under Peter Chinunda) travelling across Zambia and beyond under the auspices of the Parenthood Association of Zambia.
InOctober we excitedly saw Bantu Arts Theatre Empire sauntering into Zimbabwe with the two-character The Harlot and the Prostitute played byBenson Mumba as pastor, and the harlot was played by Gift Muneka.
In turn Bantu’s visit was reciprocated by Zimbabwe’s RoofTops promotion with a play Lamentations at 12amazingly staged at Lusaka Playhouse.
The Chingola-based ABET Arts Promotions conducted two remarkabletheatre workshops in Chingola and Chilillabombwe under the auspices of AcksonTembo and Moses Chabinga. I tailed these workshops and noted the target wasteachers whose children in school need lots of lessons in technical drama.
ABETS’ workshops, prompts me of the conspicuous absent during the year of the National Schools Arts Association of Zambia (NASAAZ) national festival – this I hear followed the dissolution of the head teachers’ association by the ministry of General education. The last festival held in 2015 at Mansa College of Education proved a huge successwith national NASAAZ chairman David Asumani urging all schools in the country to establish drama clubs.
So the absence of the NASAAZ festival this year can be described as a backward step in promoting drama among young people in schools.
And the sunshade of theatre in Zambia, the National Theatre Arts Association of Zambia (NATAAZ), in spite of the continued struggle for finances; in an effort to show direction incorporated Hon Given Lubinda, who is also Minister of Justice as its patron, and this was culminated by a celebration following a solidarity peaceful match pastheld just before the August 2016 elections. The walk was characterized by song, dance and peaceful slogans.
This event by theatre artists called for the peaceful conduct of the general elections which earlier was sparked with violence.
That the said general elections finally became generally peaceful is not a small matter; local artists who included musicians should not be underrated, but extolled for playing a significant and supportive role.
Highly,Chingola Arts Society (CAS) under Evans Kalandanya as chairman has remained at the top, but the team needs to work on full length plays, plays that will chronicle a history and a phase in history.
Credit at CAS goes to young up and coming playwrights AlickChileshe and youthful players like Memory Kasweshi, Brave Chisala, Lillian Chibwe, Monica Namwiyias they work with old hands like Elias Chabushiku, Stephen Zimba, BwalyaChikwanda, Evans Mulenga, Brian shapi.
I see lots of potential at CAS requiring adherence, devotion and observance to stage theatre….and the sky is the limit.
Isaac Kalumba was at the helm of organizing the Mwansabombwe theatre festival; being the third installmenthe intimated the growth of the festival saying the people of Luapula particularly Mwansabombwe were now customary looking forward to the festival.
Summarily to crown 2016, perhaps news of Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) engaging some theatre artists on fulltime basis at Kitwe Little Theatre can be the most exciting. This followed the rehabilitation of the theatre house, and the successful industrial play The Mopani Way by Barney Kanjela.
Playwright Barney Kanjela knitted a story that pointed on various hazards, good work cultures and told this tale candidly in a very humorous, hilarious and pleasurable way.
The Mopani Way was watched by over 4000 workers with 78performances – this was an inordinate achievement on the Zambian theatre scene.
The energetic Barefeet theatre outfit helped remember British playwright William Shakespeare’s 400th birthday! With the British Council sponsored performances in Lusaka and Kitwe, it was such a refreshing show to watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream. My question was as a lesson to Zambia – wouldn’t it be great to have exhibitions that celebrate our own, the likes of KabweKasoma, Prof. Dickson Mwansa, John Katebe, Light Musonda,  MasautsoPhiri, Kwaleyela Ikafa, Graig Lungu, Barney kanjela among others?
Theatre in Zambia has continued to face hardship and suffered lack of big corporate support; Mopani for this has been exceptional and deserves a pat on the back.
I strongly feel, the National Arts Council (NAC) shouldshow presence in supporting the arts; theatre workshops, festivals, play performances, the movie industry – otherwise, there is seemingly very little that appears to be coming from NAC.
More about the highlights of 2016 next week.
John.kapesa818@yahoo.co.uk (kapesakapesa818@gmail.com) – 0955-0967-0977-710975