The Sunday Mail
Ellen Sanyanga
ALTHOUGH Stephen “Uncle Steve” Chifunyise breathed his last in August 2019, his legacy lives on.
Locally and around the world — artistes and theatre aficionados continue to honour and remember his great works, rather artistic treasures, he left behind.
And in remembrance of the arts and theatre giant, his brainchild Chipawo Trust with help from the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), Rooftop Promotions and Theatre in the Park among many others, have come together to host a three-day Stephen Chifunyise International Festival.
The first edition is set to be held from March 26-28 at Theatre in the Park in the capital.
In his lifetime, scores of Chifunyise’s plays premiered at Theatre in the Park, and it is fitting that the venue, which is ensconced in the Harare Gardens, hosts the inaugural event.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail Society, Chipawo Trust manager Chipo Bhasopo said that the festival is very important to the creative industry because it enables people to celebrate Chifunyise’s good deeds in the arts industry and theatre sector in particular.
“The festival has a strong significance to Zimbabwe as a whole as it is the first time that we are celebrating, at this level, the good theatrical works of one of our own. People will be amazed at the diversity of Chifunyise’s works and his contribution to the arts sector,” she said.
She added that he did so much for the arts industry not only in Zimbabwe but in Africa and the world through his work with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Bhasopo said, for Chipawo specifically, the Stephen Chifunyise International Festival meant a lot as most of his works dealt with children and children’s issues.
“It has shown us that Uncle Steve was not only an adult but he was also a child and he believed that the future of our culture and heritage is in the hands of children.
“He believed that involving children in events meant that one has invested in today, tomorrow and the future. He was a great giant and a great giant’s works ought to live on, never to be forgotten,” she said.
Before Chifunyise died, he had penned more than 80 theatre plays that came to life on stage. His tentacles reached far and wide — he was part of the Zambian theatre circuit from its formative days as part of the University of Zambia community and remained attached to it to his death.
For television, he did ground-breaking race relations works that include Zimbabwe’s first sitcom “Waiters”, post-independence series “Solo naMutsai”, various children’s stories, book readings and folklore (storytelling).
The three-day festival will see a mixture of children, universities, practitioners and filmmakers coming together for presentations that look into his plays, novels, films and dances. Academic papers will also be presented. As he did not operate in Zimbabwe only, the countries that worked with Chifunyise have confirmed their participation.
These include Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa to celebrate Stephen Chifunyise’s impact in the arts, culture and theatre industry.
