New Horizon receives standing ovation

 In two weeks they were asked to do a play entirely in Shona — and it was an unforgettable performance.
Last Friday, the group of youngsters, most of them school leavers were at the Zimbabwe College of Music where they performed a play written in the late 1890s by a Spanish missionary who worked here in Zimbabwe. The play is entitled Mutambo Mukuru wePanyika – literally translated into English means The World’s Greatest Play.
The play was conceptualised in the teachings of the Bible: “Do unto others as you would want them to you — for whatever you do, remember, there is God in the Heavens”. The play was commissioned by the Spanish Embassy in Zimbabwe as part of their cultural activities.
The play is about life in the world (or on Earth) as it was created by God. God created man in his different way and manner — the rich and the poor, farmers, prostitutes, the church, rulers and their servants and any other aspect of human life. These people were put on Earth each to live their life as God had given them, but the only command that God wanted them to follow is to remember that He is God the Almighty.
But some chose to abuse their God-given blessings and disobeyed him. Each of these people reached a point of death and each was taken to appropriate places in God’s realm except those who had sinned.
However, what was most striking about the performance is that the youngsters, who would otherwise be comfortable in doing a play in English or mixing languages, showed that a play can be done in different languages thanks to one of Zimbabwe’s respected author and actor, Aaron Chiundura-Moyo.
According to accomplished playwright and co-director of the play, Stephen Chifunyise, “Chiundura-Moyo worked with the kids for just two days” to polish them with regards to the use of Shona as a language in the play.
The Spanish Ambassador in Zimbabwe, Pilar Fuertes , said she was impressed with the play though she doesn’t understand the language, but the performance and the reception the performers received was enough to show that they had done a great performance.
The play was co-directed by the deputy director of the Zimbabwe College of Music, Clayton Ndlovu. The Spanish Embassy funded the production of the play and has promised to take it to other parts of the country.
In another boost for the cultural sector, the Spanish Embassy also recently supported a fashion show which was held at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. The fashion show was a reminder for the need to revive an industry that is otherwise on the verge of virtual collapse.
Fuertes, who was the guest of honour at the fashion show said “culture doesn’t have to be borrowed”, but is something that is inherent in every society and that it should be promoted. She added that culture can be an industry that can economically benefit the country, but it is Zimbabweans themselves who should drive that process.
Three Zimbabwean fashion desginers — Colin Ratisai, Maita Marimo and Alice Knuth — presented their creations to a keen audience.