The Sunday Mail
Zandile Zaza Ndlovu
THE ongoing Covid-19-induced lockdown has spurred demand for online content.
Bars, live gigs and social clubs, including most contact sports, are currently banned in order to minimise the spread of the coronavirus.
Accordingly, online platforms have become one of the major source, if not the major source, of entertainment around the world.
This has created an opportunity for some content creators to scale up their work and reach out to many people. One such creative is Kirkpatrick Chidamba, better known as Mambo Hwata.
Chidamba has a signature way of creating images that allow people to confront their realities. His love for art has seen him break ranks with his family, especially after he decided to drop out of school.
“They (family) did not understand my dream and I do not blame them. It is hard to accept that your child has chosen to base their livelihood on what their mind imagines.
“I hope they now see and appreciate the work I do. I chose to change the world in a different career path than theirs,” said Chidamba.
His creative prowess began showing while he was still enrolled at Marist Brothers Secondary School in Dete (Matabeleland North).
With a couple of friends, they used to write short stories in exercise books and would share them with classmates for leisure reading and criticism. The interest that was always generated by his work inspired him to further explore his creative abilities. This is when he discovered his camera skills.
“I was a writer before I was a photographer. I broke into the media scene as a blogger and I worked with them for over two years until I left and picked up photography,” he said.
Chidamba tells his stories through images.
And most of his work has gained traction over the past weeks courtesy of the lockdown.
“Every time I hold the camera, there is a need for me to understand my scene, the mood of the scene and the story that I need to take.
A face captured with the right emotion can channel a story of pain, hurt or love,” he explained. He believes the creative space has the potential to further grow, especially when opportunities presented by online platforms are harnessed.
“. . . now that everyone is hunting for content online because movement is limited, it is time to capitalise.”
His colleagues speak highly of him.
“He always captures things even if he does not have a camera,” observed Noble Stylz.
Chidamba has also written songs for local musicians.
He is currently working with a Covid-19 Information Outreach team as a field photographer.
Chidamba was born in Shutu Village, Chiweshe.
He briefly stayed in Harare before moving to Bulawayo.
Zandile Zaza Ndlovu is a leisure & arts correspondent. You can follow her on Instagram & Twitter on @zazaliciousone and Facebook page Zaza.
